AP To Begin Agrigold Payouts From Sept. 15
The minister said the sub-committee would meet the Chief Secretary on August 11 to resolve inter-state legal issues and finalise auction guidelines later this month: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday announced a time-bound plan to resolve the decade-old AgriGold scam, stating that compensation to depositors through the auction of the company's properties will begin by September 15, while a dedicated special court will become operational by August 15.
Food and civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar, speaking after a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on the AgriGold issue, said the government was committed to ensuring a transparent and legally sound compensation process. Ministers Vangalapudi Anitha and Anagani Satya Prasad attended the meeting.
The minister said the sub-committee would meet the Chief Secretary on August 11 to resolve inter-state legal issues and finalise auction guidelines later this month. A dedicated website and public dashboard will also be launched to provide real-time updates on the process.
According to the government, about 5.85 lakh agents collected ₹6,380 crore from depositors, including ₹3,944 crore in Andhra Pradesh, by promising residential plots. While deposits were collected for 18,57,290 plots, the company accounted for only 5,76,579 plots, indicating large-scale diversion of funds.
The government has identified 23,430 acres of AgriGold land across the country, including 20,450 acres in Andhra Pradesh. Of these, 14,304 acres have already been handed over to the government by the CID. The Cabinet Sub-Committee has decided to auction about 6,380 acres in the first phase and distribute the proceeds among eligible depositors.
Manohar said deposits had also been mobilised in the name of red sanders and teak plantations. Nine FIRs have been registered, and the government will seek the approval of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate legal proceedings and facilitate the auction of these assets.
The minister said the government would request the High Court to appoint judicial officers and staff for the proposed special court. Special collection cells, in coordination with the CID, will also be set up to recover AgriGold bonds worth nearly ₹2,000 crore from agents, including those residing outside the state.
