HYDRAA Chief AV Ranganath Says Land Mafia Misled Courts in Lothukunta Case

Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) Commissioner AV Ranganath on Monday alleged that land mafias and encroachers misled courts with false information in the Lothukunta land issue, following observations made against him by the Telangana High Court.

In an official statement issued on July 27, 2026, Ranganath responded to the High Court's remarks by stating that the 63 contempt of court cases filed against him originated directly from enforcement actions taken against alleged land encroachers. Reaffirming his faith in the judiciary, he stated that he has always worked with respect for the law and will face all contempt cases legally.

Addressing the specific land dispute in Lothukunta, Ranganath alleged that a real estate firm named Shanta Sriram attempted to usurp government land valued at nearly Rs 10,000 crore. He charged that the firm conducted indiscriminate destruction of hundreds of trees and blasted heritage rock formations without securing any permissions from authorities.

Ranganath further alleged that the builder misrepresented the location of the property by claiming it was situated three kilometres away from its actual position. Through this alleged misrepresentation, the firm encroached upon 120 acres of government land before filing a contempt case against him.

Asserting that he has worked with courage, honesty, and fearlessness, Ranganath said he would maintain the same commitment to his responsibilities. He added that whatever duties the government entrusts to him in the past, present, or future, his objective remains to deliver 100 per cent results while respecting the law.