Media baron Ramoji Rao and his son Ch Kiron surrendered before police in Visakhapatnam [Images] city on Wednesday in connection with a cheating case.

They were released on bail on furnishing two sureties of Rs 10,000 each.

It may be recalled that Andhra Pradesh High Court, on February 11, had granted conditional anticipatory bail to Ramoji Rao and his elder son and directed them to surrender at the Three Town police station within 10 days. Consequently, Ramoji Rao and Kiron reached Visakhapatnam on Wednesday and surrendered before the police.

The police had filed the criminal case against Ramoji Rao, Kiron and Ushodaya Publications owned by Ramoji Rao family following the direction by the chief metropolitan magistrate court on a petition moved by Manthina Aditya Eswara Kumara Krishna Varma of Visakhapatnam, who had leased out his land at Seethammadhara in Visakhapatnam for Eenadu complex.

According to the case details, Varma gave 2.7 acre of land on a 33-year lease to Ushodaya Publications, way back in 1974. Varma complained that Ushodaya Publications parted with 517 square yards land to the government for road widening in 1984 and in lieu obtained a piece of land admeasuring 817 square yards elsewhere.  

Instead of registering the alternative land given by the government in the land-owner's name, Ushodaya Publications registered the piece of land in its own name, Varma alleged.

After the expiry of 33-year lease, Ushodaya Publications approached Varma for renewal of the lease agreement when the land owner noticed the change in land boundaries. Consequently, he lodged a complaint of cheating with II Town Police and a case was registered under sections 406, 409, 418, 420 and 34 of Indian Penal Code for cheating and criminal breach of trust.