Hyderabad: Telangana govt has suspended revenue department deputy collector Ramu Naik after uncovering his role in an alleged land scam during his deputation to the Telangana Housing Board.Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy confirmed that a detailed inquiry has been ordered, while promising strict action against all officials involved.Naik, who served as land acquisition officer in the housing board between 2013 and 2018, allegedly got nearly 1,100 sq yards of govt land worth Rs 20 crore registered on different persons’ names during his stint. Preliminary investigations have revealed that housing board officials and sub‑registrars allegedly colluded with Naik to illegally transfer prime plots into private hands.“Naik had got the govt land registered on various people’s names in other places of the city. A 400 sq yards plot in Vijayanagar Colony near Masab Tank, a 22 square yard plot in Tuljaguda in Nampally, 130 sq yards in Laxmiguda near Chandrayangutta, and 497 sq yds in Mahabubgunj in Nampally were registered under various names. The registration department IG has been asked to probe the roles of sub‑registrars in these cases,” Srinivas Reddy said. Overall, Naik allegedly got 1,100 sq yards of land during his stint in the housing board.Among the most glaring cases was the illegal registration of a 33 sq yard plot near the high court gates on Feb 17, 2018. Valued at over ₹2 lakh per yard, the land was registered in the name of Sabia Sultana, wife of dismissed housing board inspector Iftikhar Ahmed. The registration fee was never deposited, and the Charminar sub‑registrar approved the transfer without the housing board clearance. Sultana later sold the property in April 2025, further compounding the fraud.The fallout has already begun. Superintendent Vivekananda, who assisted Naik, has been permanently dismissed ten years before retirement. Another superintendent, Bona Nayak, has been suspended. The minister confirmed that Naik himself will be permanently removed from service once the inquiry concludes.The minister struck a firm tone, warning that the govt would not tolerate encroachment or misuse of public property. “The govt will not spare anyone who usurps public properties,” he declared. He emphasised that punishment would be harsher for govt employees, with both criminal and departmental proceedings initiated against them.Srinivas Reddy also announced heightened surveillance to curb land grabs, illegal registrations, and abuse of authority. He criticised the previous BRS govt for ignoring Naik’s activities, saying the scam could have been prevented had timely action been taken.
