Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who also holds the Forest and Environment portfolio, has directed the forest department to file criminal cases against "those involved" in the illegal occupation of forest land.
Published May 14, 2025 | 1:25 PM ⚊ Updated May 14, 2025 | 1:25 PM
YSRCP leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy. (X)
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government, led by the TDP, is taking action against forest officials over alleged negligence in forest land encroachment by YSRCP leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy in Chittoor. Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan ordered criminal cases following a vigilance report. YSRCP denies charges, calling them politically motivated.
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to take stringent action against forest department officials for negligence in protecting forest lands allegedly encroached by YSRCP leader and former minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and his family in Chittoor district.
The TDP led-NDA government has focused on the allegations that Ramachandra Reddy and his family had “unlawfully” occupied 27 of the 77 acres of forest land in Mangalampeta revenue village, Pulicherla Mandal, Chittoor district, as part of its crackdown on YSRCP leaders accused of illegal activities.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who also holds the Forest and Environment portfolio, has directed the forest department to file criminal cases against “those involved” in the illegal occupation of forest land.
Pawan Kalyan gave the direction after reviewing a report from the Vigilance and Enforcement Department, which investigated the allegations that Ramachandra Reddy’s family had illegally occupied forest, government, and Bugga Matham lands in Chittoor district.
The Director General of the Vigilance and Enforcement Department in the report recommended action against forest department staff for turning a blind eye to the encroachments.
A joint committee comprising the Chittoor District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and forest conservator, formed on 29 January 2025, had made an observation to this effect.
The accusations include manipulation of land records, benami transactions, and the development of a luxury estate—complete with a guest house and private road—within the forest area, causing environmental harm. Also, there are allegations that Reddy and his family are accused of encroaching over three acres of Bugga Matham land in Tirupati.
Peddireddy and the YSRCP cried foul and denied all allegations, calling them politically motivated and maintained that they were part of a smear campaign by the TDP-led coalition government. He said that he had legally purchased the land in 2001. Peddireddy had accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of using “friendly media” to target YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders, including himself, with false claims.
The incumbent government in Andhra Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, has ordered a fresh, in-depth investigation into the issue, after over 300 persons reportedly filed complaints against Peddireddy’s family at the Madanapalle sub-collector’s office, alleging land grabbing across constituencies like Madanapalle, Punganur, Thamballapalle, and Pileru.
Furthermore, leaders from CPI (ML) New Democracy, including district secretary Rayapaneni Harikrishna, had demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged encroachments.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
