Former Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker and senior YSR Congress Party leader Tammineni Sitaram and members of his family have reportedly gone into hiding after being named as accused in a Rs 4 crore land-grabbing conspiracy case that has triggered political and legal controversy in Srikakulam district.
According to media reports, police have launched a search for Tammineni, his wife Vani and their son Venkata Srirama Chiranjeevi Nag, all of whom have been named as accused in the case.
The case allegedly involves the creation of forged documents declaring a living landowner dead and presenting a woman from Odisha as the sole legal heir to facilitate the illegal transfer of valuable land.
Police disclosed details of the alleged conspiracy on Sunday and outlined the suspected role of Tammineni’s family in the case.
The family, which had been staying in a rented house in Amadalavalasa, allegedly left the residence at around 3 am on Monday. Though two personal vehicles were parked at the house, they reportedly hired a private Innova to leave the area.
Their mobile phones were allegedly left behind, making it difficult for police to trace their location.
Special police teams have been formed to locate the accused. However, the reported escape has sparked criticism over why the police did not arrest them earlier despite knowing their whereabouts.
Of the 13 people allegedly involved in the conspiracy, eight have already been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
Apart from Tammineni and his family members, former home guard Trinath and a sub-registrar from Hiramandalam have also been named as accused. Police have reportedly been searching for Trinath for several days.
TDP leaders have questioned why the former Speaker’s family was not taken into custody earlier, arguing that the delay gave them enough time to seek legal advice and leave the area.
Police are now examining land transactions carried out during the previous YSRCP government, particularly properties purchased by Tammineni Sitaram, to determine whether similar fraudulent registrations had taken place.
Police also alleged that several employees of the Tammineni family’s educational institution, including Upendra Kumar, Upendra Rao, Sambasiva Rao and Gopalakrishna, signed forged property documents as witnesses and have now been named in the investigation.
There are also allegations that, while serving as Speaker, Tammineni pressured villagers in Chintamani village of Tekkali mandal to transfer 23 acres of land in Survey No. 324 to his son’s name.
The family also faces allegations of illegally taking possession of a house belonging to the family of a deceased close associate in Amadalavalasa following a dispute among the legal heirs.
Police are continuing their investigation into all the allegations.
