Govt to conduct forensic audit of Dharani transactions to ascertain the magnitude of irregularities

View of the Koheda layout on the city outskirts in Hyderabad on Friday, July 26, 2024.
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL

The State Government has resolved to conduct a forensic audit of all transactions taken up through the Dharani portal to ascertain the magnitude of the irregularities that are alleged to have taken place in land transactions over the past few years.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly on Friday responding to doubts expressed by BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy over the tacit understanding between the Congress and the main Opposition BRS on land deals. Mr. Maheshwar Reddy wondered why the Government was reluctant to order an inquiry by the CBI or sitting judge or a special investigation team into the irregularities amounting to thousands of crores.

“The Government is committed to protect the interests of the common man and farmers. We will conduct forensic audit of the transactions and misuse of Dharani portal by the previous Government,” he said. He asserted that the Government was committed to resume the lands that were misappropriated by the BRS leaders in the past few years.

The Minister took strong objections to claims of BRS member T. Harish Rao that the Government cancel the agreement leasing out Outer Ring Road for 30 years if it had doubts. “An enquiry is needed to cancel the deal and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced the constitution of a special investigation team to probe into the issue. We will initiate necessary action once the report comes out,” he said.

To Mr. Maheshwar Reddy’s demand on the CBI probe, Mr. Ponguleti said the Government would take steps after the basic report on the irregularities in Dharani and Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Passbooks Act, 2020, was prepared. At the same time, he asked the MIM, BJP and CPI members to submit whatever information they had on the misappropriation of lands in the name of Dharani and Record of Rights Act enacted by the previous Government.