`No liaison agents, no touts’: HYDRAA busts gang which extracted Rs 50L from man, promising to settle dispute

Hyderabad: HYDRAA has filed a police case against three persons—among them a former lawyer and a digital media representative—for allegedly duping a landowner of Rs 50 lakh by claiming they could “influence” HYDRAA officials and secure a favourable order in a contentious property case.

Alleged encroachment at Kuntloor

HYDRAA officials said Vertex Real Estate had launched a project in Kuntloor, Hayathnagar, encroached on the adjoining Suram Cheruvu, dumped soil and silt into Kothakunta, and built a box drain. Two formal complaints had been lodged against the company.

In a separate incident, the firm allegedly laid a 150-foot road across land belonging to Chaitanya Reddy, sparking the dispute that set the stage for the fraud.

How the Racket Operated

The complainant was introduced to Sunkari Naresh, a former lawyer, by her cousin Praveen, who presented him as a legal adviser to a YouTube channel. Naresh in turn claimed that his associate Chandu Srinivas, a digital media correspondent, enjoyed “connections” within HYDRAA.

Naresh allegedly told the complainant that officials were reluctant to handle the matter but hinted it could be resolved for a price.

Money collected in two installments

Rs 20 lakh collected by Praveen in the second week of June.

Rs 30 lakh handed over to Naresh in the last week of June.

HYDRAA officials later revealed that Naresh had earlier been struck off the High Court Bar for using fake certificates.

Scheme exposed

When HYDRAA summoned both sides for questioning, investigators concluded the complainant had been misled. Evidence, including a video attempting to level false allegations against the authority, surfaced—further exposing the conspiracy.

Based on a complaint by ACP P. Thirumal, Pahadishareef Police booked Naresh, Srinivas, and Praveen for cheating and extortion.

HYDRAA issues public advisory

HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath warned that the agency would take strict legal action against anyone misusing its name for monetary gain. “Citizens should avoid intermediaries and approach HYDRAA directly for grievance redressal,” he said.