Andhra Pradesh High Court orders anti-corruption probe into Kakinada land scam

The Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the state's Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate an alleged Rs 15 crore land scam in Kakinada Urban Mandal. The court expressed concern over possible collusion among private petitioners, municipal officials and government lawyers to mislead the judiciary and illegally transfer public property. The order requires an officer of at least Inspector‑General rank to complete the probe within 12 weeks and submit a report to the ACB Director General.

The High Court intervened after the Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) gave contradictory information in response to Right‑to‑Information (RTI) requests about the ownership and classification of certain parcels, including land linked to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Activist Gopal R Surabathula highlighted the conflicting affidavits and the corporation’s failure to provide clear records, prompting the court to order the ACB investigation into the matter.