EMAAR Properties Case: Dubai Prasad Arrested

The CBI, which is probing the Emaar-APIIC township scam, has arrested industrialist Koneru Rajendra Prasad (popularly known as Dubai Prasad) on Thursday. With this, Prasad's relationship with the who's who in Andhra Pradesh, including former chief ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) scanner.

Koneru Rajendra Prasad, the founder chairman and chief mentor of Trimex Group and promoter of Stylish Homes Real Estate Limited was arrested on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and falsification of accounts. Popular as 'Dubai Prasad' for his immense clout in Dubai and other emirates, he allegedly sold plots developed by Emaar-MGF in the township for Rs.25,000 to Rs.50,000 per square yard while showing only Rs. 5,000 in official records. CBI officials said this caused huge losses to Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), which had 26 percent equity in the joint venture with Emaar. The Dubai-based Emaar Properties and its Indian associates are alleged to have diluted the equity of APIIC without the latter's knowledge.

It was during the tenure of TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu as the chief minister, Prasad started calling the shots. It was during his rule that Prasad was acting as representative of Emaar Properties, which bagged the prestigious project to build international convention centre near Hitec City, the IT district in Hyderabad. Prasad also used his clout with Naidu to get 535 acre of prime land at Gachibowli for Emaar Properties to build township-cum-golf course project in 2002. His clout in the business and political circles only increased when he became the business ambassador of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the director of RAK Investment Authority and with his proximity to the state chief minister, he became the marketing agent for Emaar Hills Township Project (EHTP) to sell the posh villas and apartments in the township built by Emaar-MGF in the township at Gachibowli. He sold the villas to top businessmen, politicians and film personalities.

The businessman's meteoric rise continued when the late Rajasekhara Reddy, known as YSR, became chief minister in 2004. Prasad was reportedly shown many favours by YSR and his close aides. In 2007, the state government entered into an agreement with RAK for $2 billion alumina refinery and smelter project in Visakhapatnam district. The government allotted 350 acres land for the mega project. Prasad also managed to get the contract for RAK for building Economic City at Sultanpur on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The government in 2008 allotted 576 acres of land for the project. It was claimed that the project will bring Rs.20,000 crore investment and provide 100,000 jobs. Prasad along with his two sons floated a special purpose vehicle Hyderabad Economic City Developers Private Limited to build the project.
 

 

Video Source: snehatv.com

 

Modi Is Not Our PM: Owaisi

MIM is a recognized state political party based in the Indian state of Telangana, with its head office in the old city of Hyderabad, which has its roots in the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen founded in 1927. Unlike most of the regional and national level parties, MIM party leaders ‘fight’ only for the well-being of Muslims, whereas no other party has such communal feelings. In their each and every speech, MIM leaders speak only about Muslims. If these leaders are here to fight for Muslims, then why there are no development works are happening in old city area for decades. Akbaruddin Owaisi faced criticism for making hate remarks on Narendra Modi and Hindus. Recently, his elder brother Asaduddin Owaisi made some notorious annotations. In a one-on-one debate between BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and Asaduddin Owaisi on the topic of demonetization in a popular Hindi channel, the former left no stone unturned in exposing the latter’s communal designs. Owaisi claimed how most of the Muslim community still remains unbanked and that demonetization has caused severe inconvenience to Muslims. He even went on to say that ATM’s in Muslim-dominated areas weren’t fed enough money. He indirectly alleged that the Modi government hadn’t done anything for Muslims. Even after being pressurized Owaisi didn’t call Narendra Modi as his Prime Minister. He went on said, “Your Prime Minister…” On the other hand, Sambit spoke wisely and called Owaisi a leader of small stature because he talked only of Muslims. He said that no area was Muslim or Hindu and that all areas belonged to India. Owaisi was constantly quoting an RBI report, to which Sambit challenged him to show where the RBI had used the word ‘Muslim’. Sambit even said that if a Muslim leader speaks of Muslims it’s not an issue, but the moment a VHP leader speaks of Hindus people go crazy accusing them of imposing the Hindutva ideology. The most amazing of his counters was to Owaisi’s claims of Muslims not having been brought into the banking system. Sambit said that when banks or ATMs are to be opened in Muslim areas leaders like Owaisi shout that banking is un-Islamic and that Muslims should refrain from it! This video of debate between Sambit Patra and Asaduddin Owaisi is going viral in social media.