Former Minister Harish Rao Raises Alarm Over Alleged Rs 1,000 Crore Land Fraud in Shamshabad

Hyderabad — In a significant allegation levelled at the Congress administration, BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao has claimed that a massive land scam involving roughly Rs 1,000 crore occurred in the Shamshabad area through the improper conversion of public land into private ownership.

Speaking to journalists at Telangana Bhavan on Tuesday, Harish Rao contended that the Congress government has neglected its responsibility to safeguard public assets. He alleged that officials attempted to transfer 170 acres of government land located in Peddashapur village, Shamshabad mandal, to private parties.

The disputed property, according to Harish Rao, corresponds to Survey Numbers 173 through 183. He pointed out that the Revenue Divisional Officer had formally identified these lands as government property and had directed staff to place them on the prohibited list under Section 22-A.

Harish Rao highlighted that these particulars were incorporated in a legal document filed with the High Court on January 30, 2026. He then drew attention to what he termed a dramatic reversal: on February 24, 2026, the Tahsildar confirmed the land's status as government property, yet merely four days later, on February 28, 2026, the same official classified it as private property.

"Within a span of just four days, how could government land transform into private land?" Harish Rao questioned, pointing to what he viewed as a glaring inconsistency.

The former minister further asserted that conflicting assessments from both the Revenue Divisional Officer and Tahsildar were subsequently submitted to the High Court. He questioned the involvement of top-ranking officials, including the district Collector and the Advocate General, in permitting this shift.

Harish Rao alleged that the government reassigned the Mandal Revenue Officer only after media coverage brought the matter to public attention. He also contended that officials from the Anti-Corruption Bureau had commenced an investigation into the case but subsequently halted their efforts under alleged pressure.

According to his claims, the entire 170-acre parcel was unlawfully converted into private patta land following the completion of mutation procedures, which Harish Rao stated occurred without the mandatory approvals from the Revenue Divisional Officer and were expedited overnight.

Calling for decisive action, Harish Rao demanded the immediate suspension and removal of the Tahsildar implicated in the matter. He also sought the restoration of the property to the prohibited list and called for either a Special Investigation Team or a Criminal Investigation Department inquiry into the alleged fraud.

The former minister additionally demanded an investigation into the conduct of senior government officials, officials from the Comptroller and Comptroller of Land Accounts department, and political figures who may have been involved in the matter.

"If the government genuinely upholds transparency and accountability, it must act swiftly to remove the Tahsildar and ensure that government land remains protected," Harish Rao stated.