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 Transport

07 Apr 2026

Large Format Store Planned At M G Road Metro Station

M G Road station in Bengaluru is set to host the city’s first large-format commercial and experience space, with planning led by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. BMRCL has invited proposals to develop and operate a central business district destination at the Purple?Pink Line interchange. The plan positions the station as a commercial hub designed to serve a broad commuter base across the city. The proposal is part of a broader effort to activate transit nodes commercially. Tender documents set a minimum monthly rental of Rs 0.944 million (mn), inclusive of GST, for the large-format..

Government Cancels Auction Of Eleven Critical Mineral Blocks

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical and strategic mineral blocks after receiving a poor investor response and failing to attract a sufficient number of qualified bidders. The decision represents a setback to plans to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals amid global supply chain disruptions and rising demand for materials used in clean energy and advanced technologies. The mines ministry issued an annulment notice setting out the reasons for the cancellations. The annulment notice indicated that the auction process for five mineral blocks was canc..

Gujarat Pushes Biogas Growth With 193 Operational Units

Gujarat has operationalised 193 biogas plants across the state and is planning to add 60 more units as part of a broader push to scale up clean and sustainable energy solutions. The existing plants, established under various government-supported schemes, process organic waste including cattle dung and agricultural residue to produce biogas and a nutrient-rich slurry. The output is mainly used for cooking and other energy needs in rural and semi-urban communities, while also improving local waste management practices. The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is leading the initiative and is..