Andhra Pradesh Launches Probe into Biggest-Ever Land Scams in India

09 Aug 2024 CW Team

The newly formed TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has initiated an inquiry into what is being described as possibly the "biggest-ever land scam in the country since Independence." This inquiry is based on allegations made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who claimed that the scandal occurred during the YSRCP's tenure.

At the first Collectors? conference on August 5, the Chief Minister alleged that his predecessor, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, had introduced the "land freehold policy" with the malicious intent of appropriating large amounts of land from the government and innocent assignees. According to Naidu, the previous government had allegedly started the process of alienating up to 9 lakh acre of land to private individuals as part of this policy.

RP Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary for Revenue (Land, Registration, and Stamps), noted that the freehold process was applied to various categories of land, including assigned lands, village service Inaam lands, 'Sharathulugala Patta' lands (lands with specific restrictions), and dotted lands. However, out of all the land converted to freehold, only 25,236 acre were officially registered. Sisodia mentioned that there could be agreements or General Power of Attorneys (GPAs) made outside the registration process.

Sisodia has directed the Collectors of six districts?Tirupati, Chittoor, Kadapa, Annamayya, Prakasam, and Sri Sathya Sai?to form district-level committees. These committees will be led by the Special Deputy Collector and will include the assistant registrar, tahsildar, and mandal surveyor. Their task will be to reverify the lands that were converted to freehold status, investigate gift or sale transactions involving these lands, and scrutinise the details of assignees and land purchasers to uncover any fraudulent or undervalued transactions.

Infrastructure Energy

03 Dec 2025

Moro Hub and PwC Middle East Partner to Accelerate Smart City Solutions

Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has announced a strategic collaboration with PwC Middle East to advance Smart City, Integrated Command Centre (ICC), Critical Infrastructure Monitoring and Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives across the region. The partnership brings together Moro Hub’s digital infrastructure and IoT capabilities with PwC’s global expertise in digital trust, smart city strategy and cybersecurity to support the UAE’s vision for intelligent and sustainable cities.“Our collaboration with PwC Middle Ea..

ABB India Unveils ACS380-E Drive for High-Performance Automation

ABB India has launched the ACS380-E drive, a next-generation machinery drive designed for automation-centric machine building, adding to its all-compatible drive portfolio. The solution simplifies machine integration and is future-proofed for industrial automation with advanced connectivity, faster commissioning and built-in cybersecurity capabilities.The ACS380-E features integrated dual Ethernet ports for plug-and-play communication with all major industrial automation networks, eliminating the need for separate modules and reducing installation complexity. The drive also supports fast USB-C..

Cement Makers Positive on H2 Demand Outlook

The leading cement producers have posted high single-digit volume growth and better sales realisation in the July–September quarter, setting a positive tone for the second half of FY26. Companies are upbeat on demand prospects, supported by a strong housing sector and continued government spending on major infrastructure projects. UltraTech, Ambuja Cement, Shree Cement, Dalmia Bharat and Nuvoco Vistas recorded revenue growth of up to 18 per cent in the September quarter. The rise was driven by firm realisations, softer input costs and an increased share of premium products. With coal price..