HYDERABAD: BRS official spokesperson Manne Krishank on Tuesday alleged that assigned lands belonging to SC/ST beneficiaries in Arpanpally of Kesamudram mandal in Mahbubabad district were illegally transferred via the Bhu Bharati portal to the name of Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy’s son, Vem Krishna Bhargav Reddy, for black granite mining.
Addressing reporters here, Krishank alleged that Narender Reddy misused the Bhu Bharati portal for illegal land ownership transfers and mining operations.
He alleged that around 15 acres of assigned land were linked to the family and were being used for black granite mining through a firm “Sri Sai Krishna Granites”, which, according to him, was run in the name of Narender Reddy’s wife, Vem Vijayalakshmi.
Presenting copies of land passbooks, survey details, mining department records and election affidavits, Krishank questioned how assigned and prohibited lands were converted and registered despite legal restrictions.
Krishank further alleged that these lands did not appear in earlier poll affidavits filed by Narender Reddy during previous electoral contests and surfaced only in recent disclosures after the Congress came to power.
He also alleged that district officials, including then Mahbubabad Collector Advaith Kumar Singh, approved ownership and registration changes despite the lands being categorised as assigned and prohibited in government records.
Questioning how mining permissions were granted on assigned lands, Krishank alleged that officials acted under political pressure. He also alleged favouritism, claiming that officials involved in facilitating the approvals were later given prominent postings.
Referring to Advaith Kumar Singh’s transfer in February, which he said was welcomed by locals, Krishank pointed out that the former collector was later appointed as Special Secretary to Telangana Bhavan in Delhi around the same time Narender Reddy became a Rajya Sabha member.
Demanding an impartial investigation into the alleged scam, Krishank sought cancellation of the permissions granted for the mining activity and restoration of the assigned lands to the beneficiaries. He also demanded a judicial probe into the alleged land transfers and mining operations, along with action against officials allegedly involved in approving the ownership changes and mining permissions.
Krishank further demanded a probe into the alleged involvement of Narender Reddy and the then collector in the alleged misuse of the Bhu Bharati system.
He said the BRS would pursue legal remedies, including approaching the Lokayukta and filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), apart from submitting formal complaints to the authorities concerned.
