Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) authorities, won a 20-year legal battle to regain possession of encroached land in Secunderabad and reclaimed a parcel of 4,876 square metre worth Rs 52 crore at current market rates.
The land, which is alongside the Secunderabad coaching depot near Rail Kalarang-Bhoiguda, was encroached upon around 70 years ago and all attempts by the SCR to reclaim the land failed, as the encroachers filed petitions in the courts and secured stay orders.
According to the railway authorities, the illegal occupants built four tin sheds on the land as well as a house consisting of a kitchen, bedroom and a pooja room. The house was named Draupadi Mandir.
The occupants practised witchcraft which created a fear psychosis among the locals and many refrained from entering the premises. On April 13, 2018, the High Court dismissed the petitions of the encroacher and issued a judgement in favour of the SCR. However, the party went in appeal against the judgment on the same day. A two member bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal on June 22.
