Actors Venkatesh and Rana Daggubati, producer Suresh Babu booked for ‘illegal demolition, theft’

Hyderabad: The Film Nagar police registered a criminal case against the Telugu film actors Venkatesh Daggubati, Rana Daggubati, his brother Abhiram Daggubati and father Suresh Babu Daggubati in connection with the demolition of Deccan Kitchen Hotel in Hyderabad’s Film Nagar.

The police named Venkatesh as accused number 1, Rana (A2), Abhiram (A3) and Suresh Babu (A4) and registered a case under sections 448, 452, 458 of the IPC read with section 120(B) of the IPC.

Case details

According to the official records, in Film Nagar, the Daggubati family leased out their property to a man named Nanda Kumar, who is also a suspect in an MLA purchase scandal. Nanda Kumar used the leased land to run a hotel called Deccan Kitchen. However, a legal struggle resulted from disagreements over the lease arrangement between W3 Hospitality Services’ director Nanda Kumar and the Daggubati family.

Nanda Kumar filed the case, alleging that the defendants had committed theft and illegally demolished two rented properties at Jubilee Hills. Despite a pending injunction from the City Civil Court and Telangana High Court judgments, the complainant claimed that the accused, including D Suresh Babu and Venkatesh Daggubati, illegally entered the properties and caused damage with the assistance of anti-social elements.

Alleged damage to property worth Rs 20 crores

The GHMC had ordered the demolition, but it was put on hold because of the ongoing legal dispute. The complainant also said the accused looted and damaged property valued at over Rs 20 crores in 2022 while they were in court custody. After the accused reportedly threatened and attacked the complainant’s employees, attempts to halt additional demolition on November 13, 2022, and other dates were unsuccessful.

The court took cognisance after a private complaint was submitted. As demolition attempts persisted in January 2024, the complainant requested additional information and action under several IPC articles, including trespassing and criminal conspiracy. The court has directed the Film Nagar police to conduct a detailed investigation.