Gift to TDP Leaders in Capital Land Pooling Using Temple Lands
A major controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh’s capital region, Amaravati, over the alleged illegal allocation of temple lands to political insiders. Investigative reports reveal that prime land belonging to the Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple in Velagapudi has been funneled into the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) to benefit individuals close to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP), directly violating supreme court guidelines and religious endowment laws.
The Core of the Allegation
At the center of the controversy is 10.6 acres of land under Survey Number 271-A in Velagapudi, which explicitly belongs to the Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple.
- The Encroachment: The land was allegedly encroached upon by Mothukuri Subbarao, a TDP leader.
- The Compensation Loophole: Under the APCRDA Land Pooling Scheme rules, instead of returning the compensation benefits to the temple deity (the rightful owner), the authority allegedly allocated lucrative residential and commercial plots to the encroacher.
- Prime Real Estate: Mothukuri Subbarao was allocated 6 residential plots totaling 10,600 square yards located right next to the under-construction palace of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Additionally, 2 commercial plots measuring 2,650 square yards each were allocated near the E-6 road in the same prime locality.
Key Timeline Shift: Records show that between 2015 and 2018, the Endowments Department clearly certified this land as temple property. However, as soon as the Chandrababu Naidu-led government assumed power in 2024, the administrative stance flipped completely to favor private individuals.
Disregarding the Supreme Court for Political Favors
The allocation is drawing heavy criticism because it openly flouts a landmark 10-member Supreme Court bench ruling from 1998, which declared that temple lands belong solely to the presiding deity. The judgment explicitly states that temple trustees, tenants, or encroachers possess no ownership rights and cannot sell, lease, or pool temple lands for personal gain.
Despite these stringent legal protections, the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) executed a formal Development Agreement and General Power of Attorney (DGPA) on June 18, 2025, officially transferring the plots and annuity benefits to Mothukuri Subbarao and his associate, Mothukuri Rajyalakshmi.
Reports suggest that a highly influential cabinet minister actively intervened and pressured top-tier bureaucratic machinery to override the Endowments Department’s objections and clear the file.
Scale of the Temple Land Disputes in Amaravati
The investigation highlights that this is not an isolated incident, but mirrors ongoing systematic disputes over religious assets across the capital region. Out of the total land earmarked for the capital, thousands of acres belong to various religious institutions:
| Category of Temple Land | Area (In Acres) |
|---|---|
| Total Endowment/Temple Land in Capital Area | 1,017.09 Acres |
| Pooled into CRDA without proper clearances | 843.87 Acres |
| Encroached by TDP leaders and associates | 173.22 Acres |
Instead of safeguarding these lands or compensating the Endowments Department to fund temple maintenance, the CRDA issued a resolution on October 11, 2018 (G.O. Ms No. 330), which cleared the way to treat illegal encroachers as rightful owners for compensation packages. This echoes growing friction in the capital region regarding encroachments on historic temple lands, prompting demands for high-level investigations.
Other Temples Affected Under the Same Pattern:
- Sri Malleswara Swamy Temple (Nekkallu): 11.45 acres under Survey No. 59 were pooled. Instead of paying the standard compensation of ₹4,18,10,150 to the temple, plots were allocated to local political leaders and their benamis.
- Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple (Penumaka): 14.07 acres under Survey No. 158 were pooled. The CRDA valued this at ₹2,30,51,285 but diverted allocations away from the deity.
Documentary Evidence and Local Anxiety
Official CRDA layout plans, land ownership deeds, and government identity registries confirm how the land transfers were structured:
- The Agreement Document: The official CRDA document signed by the Special Deputy Collector & Competent Authority (AP CRDA LPS Unit-22, Velagapudi) lists the temple land under Survey No. 271-A as pooled land, explicitly changing its status to benefit private assignees.
- Plot Allotment Maps: Official maps outline the exact positioning of Plot Code: 10-484-2589-10-D33 registered under Mothukuri Subbarao, verifying the massive 5,400 sq. yards allocation right in the VIP zone of the capital.
- Co-Signatories: The registry notes verification through identification documents, linking the transaction directly to political links, including individuals associated with historical criminal cases.
As the state pushes forward with expanding infrastructure, the lack of uniform protection guidelines has triggered extensive anxiety among local farmers cultivating temple Inam lands, who fear that political maneuvers are prioritizing private gains over spiritual endowments and local agricultural livelihoods.
