State Cabinet rejects CBI’s plea to prosecute Dharmana

Hyderabad, Nov 23 : The State Cabinet on Friday rejected the plea of Central Bureau of Investigation to prosecute Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who has been named as an accused in the Vanpic land allotment case.

Prasada Rao, who has tendered his resignation on August 14 after being named as the fifth accused in the case, has stopped attending office. He announced that he would not discharge his duties as Minister until he comes out clean in the case. However, a majority of ministers have pressurised the Chief Minister not to accept his resignation.

The issue was discussed again in the State Cabinet and it has been decided to reject the CBI’s plea to prosecute Dharmana Prasad, Information Minister D K Aruna said while briefing the media about the decisions.

Meanwhile, Dharmana Prasada Rao stayed away from the Friday’s cabinet meeting. However, he has sent a note pleading innocence in the land allotment issue. “I have not taken any decision on my own. Everything was done in accordance with the (then) Cabinet decisions,” claimed Rao in his note. The CBI in its chargesheet has alleged that as the Revenue Minister in the YS Rajasekhara Reddy cabinet, he indiscriminately allotted thousands of acres of land for Vanpic project.

New Lok Adalats:

The State Cabinet has also approved the constituion of nine new Lok Adalats at Adilabad, Nizamabad, Warangal, Ranga Reddy, Anantapur, East Godavari, Krishna, Prakasam and Srikakulam. This will be in addition to the seven Lok Adalats functioning at Medak, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Guntur, Karimnagar, Chittor, and Kadapa.

The minister said that the decision was taken for the speedy disposal of cases in these districts.

Nilam Review:

The State Cabinet has expressed grief over the loss of lives and property due to the cyclone Nilam. A resolution to this effect has also been passed. The cabinet has also decided to give input subsidy to the affected farmers.