Roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, accused No 5 in the illegal allotment of lands to Vanpic Pvt Limited project, on Sunday pleaded not guilty in the case and said he will fight legally and come out unscathed. Mr Rao has been summoned by the CBI court to appear before it on September 25.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, the minister said neither he nor any other minister or, for that matter, even the Chief Minister can sanction a single acre of land to any company. He said as per business rules that govern the state administration and the Cabinet, ministers cannot take decisions individually and that all decisions taken by the Cabinet are collective in nature. “CBI has only made allegations against me, these are not true. I will fight it out legally and I am confident I will come out unscathed,” Mr Rao said.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s letter seeking his explanation on the CBI's request to the government seeking sanction of prosecution under Prevention of Corruption Act, the minister said, “Last night I met the CM and handed him my explanation on the whole issue. Now it is up to him to act on my resignation letter submitted 45 days ago.” Mr Rao said the CM has assured him that he will act only after seeking legal opinion on his explanation. “Since every decision was taken in a collective manner. I believe the government will defend me including arranging legal aid,” he said.
He also defended the demand of other ministers who met the CM to enquire into the correctness of the 26 controversial G.Os issued, allegedly to benefit Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as part of a quid pro-quo arrangement. “The CBI cannot question the decisions of the Cabinet at any point of time,” Mr Rao asserted.
Mr Rao said he should not be branded guilty and convicted just because the CBI has made allegations against him and added it was the responsibility of the government to defend its own decisions on allotment of land.