Hyderabad:HYDRAA commissioner A.V. Ranganath on Wednesday issued a strong warning that individuals who are extorting money by threatening that they would lodge complaints with the authority, would face strict legal consequences, including imprisonment. This came after a surge in incidents where individuals, posing as social activists, have been targeting builders and residents near buffer zones and full tank level (FTL) areas of lakes, falsely claiming that the constructions were illegal.
The commissioner revealed that these individuals have been pressuring builders with threats of lodging complaints with HYDRAA and offering protection in exchange for bribes. In some cases, they have even presented photographs with government officials, suggesting close connections with senior HYDRAA staff to strengthen their intimidation tactics.
Commissioner Ranganath emphasised that anyone misusing HYDRAA’s name or the names of other government departments, such as the revenue or municipal authorities, should be reported immediately to local police, the superintendent of police (SP), or directly to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
In one recent case, an arrest has already been made. Dr Viplav Sinha, a resident of Ameenpur, Sangareddy district, was taken into custody for allegedly threatening a local builder. Following the directive from Ranganath, local police, acting on the SP's orders, arrested Sinha, and he has since been remanded.
