Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Deputy Leader in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, T. Harish Rao, has written to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanding the removal of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy over alleged extortion and the arbitrary freezing of private properties under Section 22A of the Registration Act, 1908. The letter, dated 20 August, also calls for an independent judicial and anti-corruption inquiry into the functioning of Telangana's Revenue and Registration machinery.

The Section 22A Controversy

Section 22A of the Registration Act is designed to prohibit the registration of legally restricted properties. Harish Rao alleged in his letter that the provision is being misused to manufacture artificial title disputes, freeze legitimate private properties, and obstruct bona fide transactions — purposes for which it was never intended.

According to the BRS leader, thousands of private properties — including HMDA- and GHMC-approved layouts and private patta lands with long-standing titles — have reportedly been reclassified as government or ceiling-surplus land during revenue-record updates and the transition to the Bhu Bharati system. The reported impact spans Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy, and Sangareddy districts, with established localities such as Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, and Nizampet among the areas cited.

Allegations of Extortion and Intermediaries

Harish Rao further alleged that Section 22A restrictions are being leveraged for illegal collections. Genuine property owners are reportedly being compelled to approach intermediaries for de-notification or registration clearance, with demands allegedly reaching as high as 30 per cent of market value, according to the letter.

The BRS leader also alleged that properties regularised decades ago under the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) framework are being re-tagged or subjected to fresh claims, creating an artificial cloud over settled titles and severely undermining their marketability.

Questions Raised and Accountability Sought

In the letter, Harish Rao posed a series of accountability questions: who is responsible for adding and removing properties from the prohibited list, who benefits from such additions and subsequent de-notifications, what the complete administrative chain of responsibility is, and whether politically connected individuals or private syndicates are involved.

The letter also raises questions about Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's oversight of the Revenue Department. 'These questions cannot be answered by press statements or routine review meetings. If the allegations are false, an independent enquiry will establish that; if true, those responsible must face the law,' Harish Rao wrote.

Political Context

The move is notable for its addressee: by writing to Rahul Gandhi — who leads the national Congress and whose party governs Telangana — the BRS is applying pressure at both the state and national levels simultaneously. The BRS, which governed Telangana until late 2023, has been in sustained opposition to the Indian National Congress (INC)-led state government. The allegations, which Harish Rao himself noted require independent verification, have not yet drawn a formal response from the Revenue Minister or the Chief Minister's office.

What Happens Next

The demand for an independent judicial and anti-corruption probe now rests with the Congress leadership. Whether the party acts on the BRS letter or dismisses it as political posturing will be closely watched by property owners in the affected districts and by the broader real estate ecosystem in Hyderabad.