Harish Rao urges Rahul Gandhi’s intervention over alleged misuse of 22A provisions

BRS leader T Harish Rao has written to Rahul Gandhi seeking intervention in the alleged misuse of Section 22A and corruption in the Telangana Revenue Department. He demanded the dismissal of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, protection of bona fide property owners, and an independent judicial inquiry.

Hyderabad: BRS deputy floor leader and former Minister T Harish Rao urged Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene in the alleged widespread misuse of Section 22A and corruption in the Telangana Revenue department. He demanded the immediate dismissal of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, protection of bona fide property owners, and ordered an independent judicial inquiry.

In an open letter to Rahul Gandhi, Harish Rao said private properties were being arbitrarily included in the prohibited list to create disputes and facilitate extortion. He stated that thousands of privately owned properties, including HMDA-approved properties in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Sangareddy districts, were being subjected to 22A restrictions.

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The BRSLP deputy leader raised concerns over harassment, threats and coercion tactics against property owners. He said middlemen were demanding commissions of up to 30 per cent of market value to get properties removed from the prohibited list. He alleged that landowners around the Outer Ring Road (ORR) were being pressured to enter 50:50 joint development agreements with benami entities allegedly backed by politically influential persons.

He questioned why Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had remained silent despite Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy reportedly stating four months ago that 40,000 acres in Yadadri Bhongir district were included in the 22A list.

Calling for an independent probe headed by a retired High Court judge, Harish Rao sought scrutiny of every property added to or removed from the prohibited list since December 2023. He also demanded a forensic audit to establish who ordered the inclusion or removal of properties, the role of intermediaries and any financial transactions involved.

He said properties regularised decades ago under the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) laws and those with registered documents were also being brought under 22A restrictions, causing hardship to owners.

The former Minister demanded that district-wise 22A lists be placed in the public domain, along with details of when properties were included or removed in the prohibited list and whose orders authorised such changes. He said the Congress government’s Bhumata initiative was expected to bring clarity to land records, not leave ordinary property owners in distress.

“If the allegations are false, the Revanth Reddy government should order an independent probe immediately and prove its integrity,” he said, warning that the BRS would continue its agitation until justice was delivered to the affected property owners.