Swamy Goud’s resignation sought in housing scam

Hyderabad: The joint struggle committee of the unions of Telangana officers, employees, teachers, pensioners and workers have sought the immediate resignation of Legislative Council chairman Swami Goud as the president of TNGO cooperative housing society.

The committee has also demanded that the government appoint an IAS officer as the special officer and take action against irregularities.

However, Mr Goud refuted the charges and insisted he would continue as housing society chairman until charges are cleared.

“If I quit now, it will be construed as my guilt. The matter is pending in court. Some people have deliberately manipulated things and levelled false allegations against me, while I was busy with the Telangana movement,” Mr Goud said.

The committee also demanded that the government initiate criminal action against Swami Goud as per the findings of the inquiry conducted by registrar of cooperative societies and make public the names of allottees of society plots in Gopanapalli village in Ranga Reddy district.

“How can Swami Goud continue to be the president of a housing society? There are serious irregularities in the allotment of land by the society headed by him. He should be sacked immediately,” said committee chairman T. Prabhakar.

V. Rajamallaiah, co-chairman of the committee also alleged grave irregularities were found in the allotment of plots.

The state government had allotted 160 acres of land to government employees, which were divided into 167 sq.yard plots and more. Mr Goud and others cornered bigger plots against rules.

Mr Goud conceded that some allottees got bigger plots in the draw of lots and as per society rules they paid Rs 2,000 per sq.yard extra for the plot size above 167 sq.yards.