HYDERABAD: A trader has been booked for illegally encroaching on government land in the heart of the city, with Jubilee Hills police registering a criminal case following complaints from revenue officials. The encroachment involved approximately 288 square yards of prime government land, estimated to be worth around ₹12 crore.
According to officials, the incident took place in Survey No. 403/P of Shaikpet mandal, specifically at TS No. 1P, Block-H, Ward-9 on Road No. 2, Banjara Hills. The land, part of a larger two-acre government property, lies adjacent to the GHMC Tree Park in Sattva Enclave on Jubilee Hills Road No. 8.
Trader Gunti Sridhar Rao, who owns a house next to the land, reportedly began levelling the open area over the past few days, removing rocks and bringing in construction materials. He even went so far as to begin erecting large sheds on the site.
Despite repeated warnings from the revenue department to halt the encroachment, Sridhar Rao allegedly ignored the notices and claimed connections with political leaders, reportedly intimidating officials by warning them not to interfere.
Late Monday night, revenue authorities, including Secunderabad RDO Sai Ram and Shaikpet Tahsildar Anita Reddy, rushed to the spot after receiving information about ongoing work using a Hitachi machine. They seized the construction materials and machinery and cleared the illegal structures on the encroached land.
A survey confirmed the encroached area to be 288 square yards. Following this, Tahsildar Anita Reddy filed a complaint with Jubilee Hills police, naming Sridhar Rao and contractor Narsinga Rao as accused.
Police registered a criminal case under Sections BNS 329(3), 324(3), read with 3(5), and have begun investigation. Warning boards have been placed on the site, notifying the public that the land is government property and unauthorised construction is prohibited.
