Telangana govt forms panel to probe lands owned by BRS leaders, associates

The Telangana government has constituted a four-member committee to investigate alleged land irregularities linked to 13 individuals, including several BRS leaders. The committee will examine alleged violations related to land ownership, prohibited category lands and encroachments, and submit reports to the government.

Hyderabad: Days after Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs inspected farmhouses and lands owned by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, the State government has constituted a committee to probe the lands owned by 13 people, including BRS leaders.

The four-member committee is headed by Commissioner of Collegiate and Technical Education A Sridevasena as chairperson. Registration and Stamps Special Secretary Rajeev Gandhi Hanumanthu, Jangaon Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha and the Collector of the district concerned are its members.

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The government has directed the committee to submit its report expeditiously. It has also been asked to submit interim reports on specific issues, as it deems fit. Accordingly, GO Ms No.134 was issued on Wednesday.

The move comes after a short discussion on “Issues relating to Section 22-A of the Registration Act” in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on September 16. Certain alleged irregularities pertaining to lands in various districts were discussed in the Assembly, requiring further administrative action.

Accordingly, the government decided to constitute the committee to enquire into irregularities and issues pertaining to lands in certain villages across various districts. The probe will cover alleged violations of statutes, Acts, Rules and government orders, besides other matters incidental thereto, with the objective of fixing accountability and recommending appropriate action, the order said.

Interestingly, the government has shared details of lands belonging to BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao, his family members and associates in Erravalli, Markook and Sivar Venkatapur with the committee.

Details of former Minister T Harish Rao’s lands at Ramancha, lands belonging to Satabisha Agro Private Limited and others at Janwada, former Minister G Jagadish Reddy’s lands at Maddur, former MLA P Rohith’s lands at Aziznagar, former Minister Gangula Kamalakar’s lands at Bahadurguda and MLA Palla Rajeshwar Reddy’s lands at Vattinagulapally have also been shared with the committee.

Details concerning former MLC Elvin Stephenson, who had exposed the “Cash-for-vote” case involving then Telugu Desam Party leader A Revanth Reddy, and the lease lands regularisation issue at Secunderabad have also been shared with the committee.

During their inspections, Congress elected representatives had alleged that BRS leaders were involved in various irregularities, particularly encroachments of government and assigned lands, besides other violations.

It may be recalled that Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy had announced in the Assembly that a special committee would address the 12 issues relating to the inclusion of lands in the prohibited category of 22 A within a month.