Kanche Gachibowli land row: KTR alleges `Rs 10,000 Cr scam' in Telangana; sends SOS to PM Modi for probe

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demonstrate his environmental commitment by ordering a swift investigation into the alleged destruction of Kanche Gachibowli forest and the Rs 10,000 crore financial scam in Telangana.

In a public appeal shared on X, KTR accused the Congress government led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of perpetrating a massive fraud and challenged Modi to refute claims of BJP-Congress collusion in the state.

The controversy surrounds the devastation of over 400 acres of ecologically critical forest land in Kanche Gachibowli, adjacent to the University of Hyderabad, which KTR described as an “environmental catastrophe” and a “grave financial fraud.”

The forest, home to peacocks, deer, and endangered species, is vital for Hyderabad’s groundwater levels but was allegedly cleared for an IT park and infrastructure projects, despite protests from students, environmentalists, and a Supreme Court order halting auction activities.

KTR alleged that the Telangana government mortgaged 400 acres of Kanche Gachibowli land lacking legal title to secure a ₹10,000 crore loan through intermediaries, without environmental clearances or forest department approvals.

“This isn’t just about biodiversity loss; it’s a ₹10,000 crore scam by the Congress government,” he stated. The Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has confirmed financial irregularities and recommended probes by central agencies, including the CBI, RBI, SEBI, SFIO, and CVC, to which BRS has submitted evidence.

Referencing Narendra Modi’s April 14 remarks in Haryana condemning Telangana’s deforestation, KTR questioned if they were “mere lip service.” He urged Modi to expedite investigations to prove his environmental resolve and counter allegations of BJP-Congress collusion. “It’s time to show Telangana that BJP and Congress aren’t colluding and that you truly care about environmental protection,” KTR said.

KTR accused Revanth Reddy of orchestrating the scam and deflecting blame, dismissing Reddy’s claim that no wildlife exists in Kanche Gachibowli. A Telangana High Court Registrar’s report confirmed the presence of diverse fauna, contradicting Reddy.

The BRS leader also criticized the mortgaging of a water body within the land as reckless, demanding Reddy’s accountability. “Leaders like Revanth Reddy, who shamelessly exploit systems, must be exposed,” he said.