House panel for CBI probe into Prasad Imax

Hyderabad, June 4 (UNI) A House Committee of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today recommended a CBI inquiry to probe the alleged involvement of Former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and bureaucracy in the ''unauthorised construction'' of Prasad Imax, a multiplex near NTR Park here.

Speaking to newsmen after submitting the report to Speaker K S Suresh Reddy today, House Committee Chairman Gurunath Reddy said they identified 34 lapses in the construction of Prasad Imax.

He alleged Mr Naidu allowed construction of Prasad Imax on land where such construction was not permitted and after rejecting 14 bidders in the tender process.

e-City Entertainment, a firm which was also shortlisted in tender process, was given land at some other site in city to construct a multiplex for which separate tender should have been called for.

This was on mutual agreement between the then government, Prasad Imax and e-city, he claimed.

The House Committee was constituted in 2004 under the Chairmanship of Congress MLA and Panel Speaker C Narsi Reddy after Khairtabad MLA P Janardhan Reddy raised the issue in the House.

After Mr Narsi Reddy died in a Naxal attack on August 15 last year, Mr Gunath Reddy was made the Committee chief.

Mr Janardhan Reddy alleged there was no proof of Prasad Imax applying for police permission MCH, HUDA, Buddha Poornima Project or Fire Department for setting up the entertainment complex.

The building was constructed violating the National Building Code norm. Besides, the firm had to pay Rs three crore in taxes as it had given space on lease to private parties for setting up food courts and other outlets on its premises.

Mr Janardhan Reddy, who was also one of the Committee members, said the company had violated parking and fire safety norms The state government should take over Prasad Imax immediately and convert it into a children's amusement park after making changes to the building for incorporating saftey features, he added.

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