Revenue officials broke parts of a sprawling 17-acre film set where a movie Saira Narasimha Reddy starring Chiranjeevi was being shot, and laid government’s claim over the property. A signboard stating so was erected at the site here on Wednesday.
The property, in survey number 63 in Guttalabegumpet, Ranga Reddy district, was being leased out to producers by one Raunak Yar Khan, who had allegedly laid claim over it till government officials raised the issue three months ago, district administration officials said. A police case was filed in Madhapur against Mr. Khan, who had claimed it as his ancestral property, district administration noted.
When asked, a senior official said, “The owner was asked to produce documents that substantiated that it is his property, within 15 days. However, he was unable to produce the evidence. We have government records dating back to 1940 which show that the property is public-owned”.
Counter claim
Mr. Khan, who said he has claims over the property said: “A High Court order issued 27 years ago states the government cannot lay claim over this property. The Revenue Department’s own records dating back to 1967 state I have ownership rights on the land,” Mr. Khan told The Hindu. The Revenue Department will have to “prove that the land belongs to them following due procedure,” he added.
Film shootings have been going on for the past 30 years in the property, Mr. Khan claimed. The blockbuster Telugu film, Rangasthalam was reportedly shot in this property.
Ranga Reddy district officials, however, stated the film fraternity including producers will have to lease out the land from them. “The administration is not against film shoots happening there. But we want concerned persons to take permission from the Revenue Department. Just 100 yards of the 17-acre set was broken as a token to indicate that permission should be sought from us,” an official said.