KTR slams Revanth Reddy's HYDRAA defence as 'shameful' after HC order
Synopsis
The Telangana High Court's order to replace HYDRAA's commissioner has given BRS's KTR fresh ammunition — and he used it all at once, calling the agency a 'nine-headed monster' built for blackmail, alleging selective demolitions that spare the politically powerful while razing homes of the poor, and pledging to abolish HYDRAA on day one if BRS returns to power.
Key Takeaways
BRS working president K.T.
Rama Rao on 28 July called Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's defence of HYDRAA 'shameful' following strong High Court observations.
The High Court on 27 July directed the Chief Secretary to replace HYDRAA Commissioner A.V.
Ranganath , acting on a contempt of court petition by a construction company.
KTR alleged HYDRAA selectively demolished homes of ordinary citizens while sparing alleged encroachments by politically connected individuals in lake beds and FTL areas.
He accused the BJP of acting as a 'secret political ally' of Revanth Reddy, shielding him from corruption allegations.
BRS has pledged to abolish HYDRAA on its first day in office if voted back to power in Telangana.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) on Tuesday, 28 July launched a sharp attack on Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, calling his continued defence of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) 'shameful' — even as the High Court issued strong observations against the agency. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, KTR accused the Congress government of deploying HYDRAA as an instrument of political intimidation, selective demolitions, and extortion rather than lawful urban governance.
High Court Directs HYDRAA Commissioner's Replacement
The immediate trigger for KTR's remarks was a High Court direction issued on Monday, 27 July, ordering the Chief Secretary to replace HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath with another officer. The direction came on the back of a contempt of court petition filed by a construction company. Critics argue the court's intervention signals a broader institutional discomfort with the agency's functioning.
KTR's Allegations Against HYDRAA
Describing HYDRAA as a 'nine-headed monster,' KTR alleged the agency had been systematically converted into a tool for blackmail, intimidation, and political vendetta. He questioned why structures belonging to politically connected individuals — including alleged encroachments by influential politicians, ministers, Members of Parliament, and powerful builders — in lake beds and Full Tank Level (FTL) areas had escaped demolition, while homes of ordinary and poor families were razed despite court protections.
KTR also alleged that the agency, which he claimed was previously known as EVDM, had merely been renamed and repurposed into a machinery for coercion. He further alleged irregularities in the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) system, claiming artificial demand had been created to facilitate large-scale financial gains.
BRS's Pledge and Political Jabs
'Respect the High Court. Respect democracy. A government that refuses to respect judicial institutions has no moral authority to speak about the rule of law,' KTR said. He announced that if BRS is voted back to power, HYDRAA would be abolished on the very first day, in keeping with what he described as the spirit of the High Court's observations.
KTR also levelled allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling it a 'secret political ally' of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He claimed the BJP was shielding the Chief Minister from allegations relating to contracts and corruption involving his relatives. He also alleged that despite Enforcement Directorate raids on Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, the BJP-led Union Government had failed to act decisively.
What's Next
The High Court's direction to replace the HYDRAA Commissioner adds institutional pressure on the Telangana government to reform or restructure the agency. BRS has signalled it will intensify its campaign against HYDRAA ahead of the next electoral cycle. The Congress government has not yet issued a formal response to KTR's latest remarks, though Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has previously defended HYDRAA's role in protecting public assets and water bodies.
Point of View
Lending judicial credibility to what were previously opposition talking points. But the selectivity charge cuts both ways: BRS governed Telangana for a decade and the urban governance gaps HYDRAA now operates in did not appear overnight. The more pointed question mainstream coverage skips is whether any Hyderabad administration — Congress or BRS — has ever applied demolition law without political calculus. KTR's pledge to abolish HYDRAA on day one also raises a governance question of its own: if the agency is dismantled, what replaces it as a check on encroachments in ecologically sensitive lake-bed zones?
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did KTR call Revanth Reddy's defence of HYDRAA 'shameful'?
KTR made the remark on 28 July after the Telangana High Court directed the replacement of HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, arguing that the Chief Minister's continued backing of the agency defied judicial authority. He accused HYDRAA of functioning as a tool for political intimidation and selective demolitions rather than lawful governance.
What did the High Court say about HYDRAA?
The High Court on 27 July directed the Chief Secretary to replace HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath with another officer, acting on a contempt of court petition filed by a construction company. The direction was accompanied by strong observations about the agency's conduct.
What is HYDRAA and why is it controversial?
HYDRAA — the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency — is a Telangana government body tasked with protecting public assets and removing encroachments, particularly around water bodies. Critics, including BRS, allege it has been used selectively to target opponents while sparing politically influential encroachers.
What has BRS promised to do about HYDRAA?
BRS working president KTR has pledged that if BRS is voted back to power in Telangana, HYDRAA will be abolished on the very first day in office, citing the spirit of the High Court's observations against the agency.
What allegations did KTR make against the BJP?
KTR alleged that the BJP was acting as a 'secret political ally' of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, shielding him from corruption allegations involving his relatives. He also alleged that despite Enforcement Directorate raids on Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, the BJP-led Union Government had not acted decisively.
