HYDERABAD: In the wake of multiple criminal cases involving GHMC corporatos and their family members being reported, the government has taken the issue seriously and directed the police to take stern action. Sources told Express that several Greater Hyderabad municipal corporators were indulging in land settlements, land grabbing and collection of mamools from business establishments, and obstructing police functioning. As majority of women are elected as corporators but their husbands and other members of their families are creating law and order problems at various places. Keeping this in view, senior officials are learnt to have directed sub-inspectors, inspectors and assistant commissioners of police to register cases against the culprits.
The latest case in point is that of Chilakalguda corporator Hema Samala’s father Karate Raju and his followers who allegedly occupied a building in Sitaphalmandi. The building belongs to 65 year-old Veera Swamy whose wife was gifted the the property at the time of their marriage. After marrying their four daughters off, Veera Swamy and his wife have been living in the building. Karate Raju, who resides near Veera Swamy’s building, allegedly wanted to encroach the building and executed his plan with his followers. When Veera Swamy tried to resist them, Raju and his henchmen assaulted Swamy, injuring him in the eye.
Following a complaint lodged by Swamy, Chilakalguda police registered cases and arrested Karate Raju and others. After he was released from jail on bail, he allegedly threatened the family. Swamy’s daughter Supriya shot a selfie video with all her family members, explaining the threats they received from Karate Raju and sent the video to chief minister K Chandrasekahar Rao seeking protection.
Higher officials, who reviewed the case, opened a history sheet on Karate Raju and his followers Balakrishna and Deekshita Charyulu.
In a similar case, the close associates of a woman corporator are allegedly collecting mamools in Nagole area, prompting the victims to lodged a police complaint. A few days ago, another corporator’s followers threatened a bar and restaurant owner at Vanasthalipuram, demanding mamool. Unable to bear the harassment, Banti, the bar owner, committed suicide while recording his suicide episode. Basing on the footage, police registered cases of abetment to suicide against the corporator and his associates.