The CBI has cleared minister Botsa Satyanarayana of any wrongdoing in the Emaar scam, stating that he was kept in the dark by IAS officials. In its chargesheet, the CBI has alleged that VIPs including Ms Brahmani, daughter-in-law of TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, bought villa plots at Rs 5,000 a square yard while others paid Rs 50,000.

The chargesheet states that IAS officials B.P. Acharya and L.V. Subrahmanyam, former chiefs of APIIC, and K.V. Rao, principal secretary, industries, took decisions that caused huge losses to the corporation and either got plots in their name or recommended their friends.

Secret note saves Botsa
The CBI, in its chargesheet said that its investigation revealed that at the time of issuing GO Ms. No. 22 dated 27.01.2005 by the industries & commerce department, the file was not circulated by principal secretary K.V. Rao through the then major industries minister Botsa Satyanarayana, though he was present in the headquarters.

The file was circulated to the minister only after the GO was issued. After perusing the file, the minister found that the GO was not in conformity with the orders and raised some objections. The minister said that the file could have been circulated before the GO was issue and demanded an explanation of the reason for the delay.

Mr Satyanarayana also asked why the file was circulated to the then Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and orders were issued on January 11, 2005, why was there a difference in the orders. He also asked for an explanation into the financial and long-term implications. The minister also asked why the clause pertaining to the increase in lease rentals to 3 per cent (from Golf Course) for 33 years were deleted. This increase was mentioned on the file at the time of obtaining orders of Chief Minister.

The minister marked the file to K.V. Rao and directing him to discuss the matter on points raised by him. He also directed Mr Rao to prepare a comprehensive note circulate it to him, finance minister and the Chief Minister and instructed him that till YSR’s approval of was obtained for the proposed changes, the orders issued vide GO Ms 22 may be kept in abeyance. Mr Satyanarayana then moved a secret note on March 17, 2005 to the Chief Minister, clarifying the issues that were required to be covered while issuing the GO Ms. No. 22. Based on the secret note, YSR approved the revision of lease rentals.