Bandi Sanjay slams Telangana govt for shielding Owaisi campus on lake
Synopsis
Union MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar has accused Telangana's Congress government of a glaring double standard — using HYDRAA bulldozers against the urban poor while allegedly turning a blind eye to an AIMIM-linked educational campus reportedly built on a Hyderabad lake. With the Telangana High Court actively scrutinising the matter, the political and legal heat is only rising.
Key Takeaways
MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar on 10 July accused the Telangana Congress government of protecting the Barrister Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus allegedly built on Salkam Cheruvu lake in Bandlaguda, Hyderabad .
The state told the Telangana High Court that a joint survey found the campus falls outside the lake's notified Full Tank Level (FTL) .
GHMC has requested HYDRAA to furnish a superimposed FTL map for further action.
Kavitha also accused the Revanth Reddy government of misleading courts while demolishing poor residents' homes under HYDRAA.
AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi on 6 July vowed to build 10 institutions for every one demolished, and said he would 'teach children under the open sky' if needed.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Friday, 10 July accused the Congress-led government in Telangana of selectively shielding the Barrister Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus in Bandlaguda, Hyderabad, which is allegedly constructed within the boundaries of Salkam Cheruvu lake. The charge came a day after the state government told the Telangana High Court that the campus does not fall within the lake's notified Full Tank Level (FTL).
The Core Allegation
Bandi Sanjay drew a pointed contrast between the state's use of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to demolish homes of the poor and its apparent reluctance to act against what he described as a visible encroachment by leaders of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a party he characterised as a political ally of the Congress in Telangana.
In a post on social media platform X, Bandi Sanjay wrote: 'The entire world can see that Owaisi's college stands on a lake, yet the Congress government continues to pretend otherwise. They can bulldoze the homes of the poor in the name of HYDRAA, but somehow fail to notice an alleged encroachment that's visible to everyone.'
He added: 'It's time they got their eyesight checked. I request every BJP karyakarta to organise free eye check-up camps for Congress leaders. If they still can't see the lake after that, the problem isn't their eyesight. It's their politics. Wherever the Congress decides to draw its political rangoli, the FTL line seems to magically shift to suit its friends.'
What the State Told the High Court
The state government's position emerged in a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning alleged encroachments around Salkam Cheruvu. Additional Advocate General Imran Khan, appearing for the state, submitted that a joint survey conducted by multiple departments concluded that the educational institutions were situated outside the lake's notified FTL.
He further told the court that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had requested HYDRAA to provide a superimposed FTL map of the lake to facilitate any further action. The matter remains before the High Court.
Opposition Chorus Widens
Bandi Sanjay was not alone in his criticism. Telangana Rakshana Sena (TRS) leader K. Kavitha also targeted the A. Revanth Reddy-led state government, alleging it was misleading the courts to protect AIMIM's educational institutions while demolishing the homes of Hyderabad's poor under the HYDRAA framework.
'A college built by encroaching on a lake isn't visible to the Chief Minister even when the whole world is watching it,' Kavitha said, and advised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to immediately undergo an eye check-up — an echo of Bandi Sanjay's own taunt.
Akbaruddin Owaisi's Defiant Stand
AIMIM legislator and Telangana Assembly leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, who represents the Chandrayangutta constituency, had on 6 July declared that demolitions would not deter him. His remarks came after the Telangana High Court granted state authorities one week to place all relevant records before it regarding the campus.
'If you demolish one institution, I will build 10,' Akbaruddin Owaisi said, reaffirming his commitment to providing free education to the poor. He alleged that certain individuals were using their authority to pressure him and target institutions linked to him. 'Even if you demolish the buildings, I will teach the children under the open sky but will not bow before you,' he said while addressing an event at one of his educational campuses.
What Happens Next
The PIL before the Telangana High Court remains the key arena. The court's scrutiny of the joint survey findings and the GHMC's pending FTL map submission will likely determine whether demolition orders are issued or the state's position is upheld. The case has drawn attention to broader questions about how HYDRAA's enforcement powers are applied — and to whom.
Point of View
But the selective optics — swift demolitions in low-income neighbourhoods, a joint survey conveniently clearing an AIMIM-linked campus — risk undermining that image. The Telangana High Court's continued oversight is the only institutional check in play. What the court does with the FTL map submission will matter far more than the political point-scoring from either side.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the controversy over the Barrister Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus in Hyderabad?
The campus at Bandlaguda, Hyderabad is alleged to have been constructed within the Full Tank Level (FTL) boundary of Salkam Cheruvu lake, which would make it an illegal encroachment. The Telangana High Court is hearing a PIL on the matter, and the state government has told the court that a joint survey found the campus is outside the notified FTL.
Why is MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticising the Telangana government?
Bandi Sanjay Kumar has accused the Congress-led Telangana government of applying HYDRAA's demolition powers selectively — razing homes of the poor while allegedly protecting the AIMIM-linked educational campus that critics say is visibly situated on a lake. He posted his criticism directly on social media platform X.
What did the Telangana government tell the High Court about the campus?
Additional Advocate General Imran Khan submitted before the Telangana High Court that a joint survey by multiple departments concluded the Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus is outside the lake's notified FTL. GHMC has also requested HYDRAA to provide a superimposed FTL map for any further action.
What is HYDRAA and why is it central to this dispute?
HYDRAA, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency, is a Telangana government body empowered to identify and demolish encroachments on lakes, stormwater drains, and public land in Hyderabad. Critics argue that its enforcement has been uneven, targeting the poor while leaving politically connected structures intact.
What has Akbaruddin Owaisi said about the potential demolition of his institutions?
AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi declared on 6 July that he would build 10 new institutions for every one demolished, and pledged to 'teach children under the open sky' rather than yield to pressure. He alleged that certain individuals were using authority to target educational institutions linked to him.
