BRS Kondagal MLA Patnam Narender Reddy booked for extortion in land deal

Hyderabad: A complaint was lodged against BRS MLA Patnam Narender Reddy of Kodangal, and two others, on the allegations of fraudulent land dealings and extortion, under the Banjara Hills police station limits by a resident of Rajendranagar. According to the complainant, Sama Indrapal Reddy, he was forced to purchase land under false promises by the MLA and two others, Y Sriram Reddy and Rakesh Reddy.

In response to the complaint, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate directed the initiation of legal proceedings under Sections 342, 384, 323, and 506 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Consequently, a case has been registered under Crime Number 544/2023, and the investigation is handed over to Sub-Inspector S Naveen Reddy.

According to Indrapal Reddy, when was looking for land to buy he was introduced to the accused parties as intermediaries. The accused allegedly convinced him that the landlords, namely Darga, Karree, and Ailamma, were willing to sell their plots in Upperpally Village, Rajendranagar Mandal, for Rs 3.65 crore, which included commissions for the MLA and the others involved.

Indrapal Reddy made an initial payment of Rs 90 lakh to the accused on May 24, 2018, as part of the purchase considerations. Additionally, he handed over six signed blank cheques worth Rs 2.75 crore as security, with the understanding that they would be returned after he paid Rs 1.75 crore to the landlords.

On May 28, 2018, he paid the agreed amount to the landlords through demand drafts and cash, and a registered sale deed was executed in favour of Indrapal Reddy’s relatives. Furthermore, he allegedly paid Rs 20 lakh in cash to the accused, bringing the total amount paid to Rs 3.05 crore.

However, the complainant said that he faced difficulties in securing a loan to pay the remaining Rs 60 lakh, which led to alleged threats and harassment from the accused parties.

“They sent threatening messages and even visited his residence on June 22, 2022, when he was absent, intimidating his wife and demanding his presence at the MLA’s house,” said Indrapal Reddy in his complaint letter.

Fearing for his safety, Indrapal Reddy agreed and went to the MLA’s residence on June 26. Once there, he was allegedly confined to a room, verbally abused, physically assaulted, and pressured to pay the remaining amount immediately.

After narrowly escaping the ordeal, Indrapal Reddy promptly reported the incident at the Banjara Hills Police Station on June 26. However, he alleges that no action was taken by the police, prompting him to approach higher authorities, including the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Zone, Hyderabad. Despite filing a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, no progress has been made in the case.

The complainant’s life is said to be under constant threat, as the accused parties have reportedly demanded immediate payment of Rs 2.5 crore and have threatened to misuse the blank cheques to implicate him in false cases and even harm him physically.