Janwada Farmhouse owner Pradeep Reddy KTR’s Benami: Congress

 Hyderabad: High tension prevailed at Janwada on Saturday when a team of Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs inspected the controversial farmhouse there, and alleged the encroachment of a nala and irregularities in its ownership and construction. Police deployed a strong force which stopped BRS supporters who had attempted to prevent the Congress leaders from reaching the site, leading to a brief confrontation.

The Congress leaders demanded that HYDRAA and other competent authorities conduct an inquiry into the encroachments, land transfers and construction permissions and take action against those responsible for the violations.

The Congress delegation alleged that farmhouse owner B. Pradeep Reddy was a benami of BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and claimed that Rama Rao stayed at the farmhouse. The leaders also alleged that the farmhouse was constructed by encroaching on the Firangi nala and that it was located within the area covered by GO 111 which protects the Himayatsagar and Osmansagar.

Congress leaders said they visited the site to bring the irregularities to the notice of the public. They alleged that the farmhouse was constructed without the required permissions and questioned the ownership of the property.

Speaking to media, Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy questioned how such a large extent of land had been assembled for the farmhouse. He said Pradeep Reddy had earlier filed a case when a drone was flown near the farmhouse during A. Revanth Reddy’s tenure as TPCC president and MP, which resulted his being jailed.

Kiran Kumar Reddy alleged that the land was originally linked to the assets of Ramalinga Raju’s companies and claimed that site in Survey No.s 301, 311 and 313 had subsequently been transferred through different companies and individuals. He alleged that 13 acres were eventually transferred to Pradeep Reddy despite cases involving the original company before the Enforcement Directorate, income-tax authorities and tribunals.

The MP also claimed that three acres and two guntas in Survey No. 301 were in the name of Rama Rao’s wife Shailima and 18 guntas in the name of his mother-in-law Pakala Sashirekha. He alleged that these land parcels were originally associated with the Ramalinga Raju group and questioned how the transfers were made while related proceedings were pending.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said the Congress leaders had no intention of entering private property but were only highlighting the misuse of power by the previous BRS leadership. He said he had spoken to the HYDRAA commissioner and the Cyberabad Municipal Commissioner regarding the Janwada farmhouse and sought action against alleged encroachments.

He stated that HYDRAA had issued a notice to Pradeep Reddy in July and questioned how Rama Rao, who had served as municipal minister, could have stayed in a farmhouse built by encroaching on a nala.

BRS supporters who gathered at the site tried to stop the Congress delegation from inspecting the area, but police intervened and moved them away. The situation remained tense for some time before the Congress leaders left the site.