The Telangana High Court has instructed the Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), A V Ranganath, to submit a comprehensive affidavit containing an apology by July 27 following three contempt petitions filed against him by a real estate firm.
The directive stems from an ongoing legal dispute over 40 acres of land located in Lothukunta village near Hyderabad, where the private company claims HYDRAA personnel repeatedly violated court orders by trespassing on the property.
Court Rejects Initial Response
During proceedings on Friday, the court reviewed a preliminary counter-affidavit in which Ranganath denied that he or his staff had entered or interfered with the disputed parcel. Addressing the commissioner’s submission that a more exhaustive counter-affidavit would follow, the bench expressed skepticism regarding the need for additional filings, stating that the contumacious behavior was apparent from the agency’s actions.
The bench emphasized that it was exercising restraint for a third time and refraining from taking the officer into custody solely due to commitments made by the state government’s chief law officer. The court subsequently set July 27 as the deadline for the commissioner to file the required affidavit and apology.
Escalation and Property Dispute Background
The legal confrontation escalated on July 23 when the High Court ordered the deployment of military personnel to secure the 40-acre site. Under that order, army officials were authorized to take HYDRAA staff into custody and seize their vehicles if any attempt was made to enter the private land.
In issuing the July 23 directive, the court noted that while calling in the army is an extraordinary step, repeated non-compliance by revenue, police, and HYDRAA officials had damaged its trust in state institutions. However, the enforcement order was placed in abeyance after the state’s chief law officer assured the bench that Ranganath would provide a formal undertaking to stay off the property and adhere strictly to judicial mandates.
The court confirmed that the status of the army deployment directive remains suspended pending the outcome of the July 27 filing.
Mandate of the Enforcement Agency
The Telangana state government created HYDRAA in July 2024 to protect lakes, water bodies, and public assets from unauthorized encroachments. Since its formation, the agency has carried out several high-profile anti-encroachment operations and demolished numerous structures deemed illegal.
