Claimant to auctioned land puts HUDA in a fix

The HUDA, in early July, auctioned 15 plots at Kokapet and brought in Rs 703 crore, its largest ever single haul.

The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority HUDA, in early July, auctioned 15 plots at Kokapet and brought in

Rs 703 crore, its largest ever single haul. The land, close to Jubilee hills and Hi-Tech city, is prime land and sold for over Rs 10 crore an acre. But now, a private individual has jeopardised the sale by claiming that the land is part of his estate.

The 15 companies who have paid for the land, christened Golden Mile, will not be able to take possession of the land for now.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court, based on a petition, has ordered a status quo on the sale of the lands. One buyer, India Builders, approached the HC asking for a full refund of the Rs 35 crore it paid to HUDA as well as asking it to withdraw from the auction. The HC is now on vacation, and the case will be heard when it reopens.

The court8217;s status quo order means that HUDA is unable to start work on developing the area. It had earlier promised that they would develop the land within six months of the auction.

The petition was filed by one KSB Ali, who claimed ownership of the land.

He said that the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad had gifted the land to him and he has the documents to prove it. He also claimed that about 1,500 acres in the Kokapet village belong to him.

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But HUDA vice-chairman Jayesh Ranjan said,8220;We are confident that the case will be dismissed by the court. Ali filed such claims before, and lost them as well. There is no truth in the story.8217;8217;

While HUDA officials say that none of the buyers are pulling out, sources say that buyers are considering the option. With the legal tussle, they have problems developing the land and there is the possibility that the case will be long drawn out.

The highest bid in this auction came in for a five acre plot, and was sold for

Rs 14.45 crores per acre. A total of 47 real estate companies participated in the auction but only 15 won land. Through a series of auctions this year, HUDA has raised about Rs 1,461 crore. Of this, the government8217;s share is Rs 736 crores 8212; Rs 400 crore from Kokapet and Rs 336 crores from a five-acre land in Jubilee Hills.