KTR demands independent probe into Kancha Gachibowli land scam

Accuses Congress government of violating statutory environmental and financial regulations; questions Centre's inaction despite having access to all evidence

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has on Thursday demanded an independent probe into financial irregularities and environmental violations by the Congress government in the Kancha Gachibowli land case. He charged the Congress government with orchestrating large-scale environmental damage and violating statutory environmental and financial regulations.

Citing the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee’s (CEC) suggestions, he called for a high-level impartial investigation under a sitting judge or central agencies such as CBI, CVC, SEBI, SFIO and RBI, without further delay. He questioned the Centre’s inaction despite having access to all evidence and repeated representations from the BRS.

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Terming the Supreme Court’s directives a victory for students and environmentalists, Rama Rao praised the Supreme Court bench led by Justice BR Gavai for restoring public faith in judiciary.

Addressing the media at Telangana Bhavan, Rama Rao questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence even after the CEC confirmed the felling of thousands of trees, destruction of animal habitats and fraudulent mortgaging of university land by the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC). He reminded that Modi had earlier accused the Congress government of imposing RR (Rahul-Revanth) tax in Telangana, but failed to act on it.

He warned that if the Centre did not initiate an investigation immediately, people would assume Modi too had a share in this sin.

“You commented on bulldozers at University of Hyderabad. But why are you not taking any action?” he asked Modi, warning that if the Centre did not act, the BRS would go to Delhi after April 27 and take up the matter with all central agencies and also the people.

Central Empowered Committee findings

The CEC’s report revealed that the 400-acre land parcel in question legally belonged to the University of Hyderabad (UoH). The committee noted that TGIIC had mortgaged the land without rightful ownership, committed violations under environment protection laws of 1974, 1981 and 2006, and caused irreversible ecological damage. It warned that public money was at grave risk and suggested a complete halt to ongoing constructions, leases, and mortgages until ownership was firmly established.

“The Supreme Court has sent a strong warning: if the State doesn’t restore 100 acres immediately, it will establish a temporary jail and imprison officials. This is unprecedented,” the former Minister pointed out.

‘Revanth Reddy is shameless’

The BRS working president also slammed Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, calling him shameless and lacking self-respect. “Any self-respecting Chief Minister would resign after the Supreme Court’s remarks. But Revanth Reddy has no shame, no self-respect,” he said.

He ridiculed the Chief Minister for dismissing videos of animal deaths and tree felling as AI-generated. “But the court saw through those lies,” he said. He also criticised the Chief Minister for scapegoating IAS and forest officials for decisions made by the Congress leaders. “Unlike Revanth, I took responsibility during the Formula-E episode. Why can’t he do so and come out clean?” he asked.

Rama Rao also condemned recent police crackdowns, stating that some officers were acting like Revanth Reddy’s private army. He warned of legal consequences for officials who filed cases based on social media posts and reposts condemning the destruction at Kancha Gachibowli, stating that his party would approach the Supreme Court if needed. “Will they file a case against Justice BR Gavai too?” he asked sarcastically.

TGIIC’s financial scam

The former Minister questioned the TGIIC’s decision to mortgage public land, including identified lakes. He said the State government paid Rs.170 crore in commissions to a brokerage company for loan at 9.5 per cent interest, far above market rates. “Without land ownership, how did they obtain loans? Isn’t this a case of cheating financial institutions? If the Centre does not act, it too is complicit,” he said.

He also ridiculed Congress Lok Sabha leader Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier promised to stand with Telangana people in distress. “Now that his party is in power, why is he silent? Where is Rahul when his government is bulldozing forest lands?” he questioned. Criticising the Congress for its double standards, he said, “They cry foul when ED targets them, after misusing CBI during UPA regime. Let the Congress clarify – is ED good or bad.”

He blamed both the Congress and the BJP for misusing central agencies like the CBI and the ED for their political convenience.

No plan to topple Congress government

Backing BRS MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy’s remarks over increasing requests to overthrow the Congress government, Rama Rao denied any plans to topple the government. However, he said the public outrage against the Congress regime was growing, with many people approaching the BRS to fund a movement to end the misrule.

“We don’t believe in overthrowing governments, but when the people rise up against this anti-people and corrupt governance, like in Bangladesh, even dictators fall. However, we want Revanth Reddy to complete his full term. Then people would never vote for Congress again for the next 20 years,” he said.