Since 30 March, eleven FIRs have been filed so far following the Telangana government's bulldozer operation to clear vegetation at Kancha Gachibowli land, which is being prepared for auction by TGIIC.
Published Apr 04, 2025 | 3:47 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 12, 2025 | 11:35 AM
Synopsis: Since 30 March, eleven FIRs have been registered following the Telangana government’s bulldozer operation to clear vegetation at Kancha Gachibowli land. A total of 133 individuals, including students, political leaders, and media platform, have been booked. Two separate cases were filed against students for protesting the government’s decision to auction the land, with 54 students detained to prevent disruption
Eleven First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against various stakeholders since Sunday, 30 March, after the Telangana government initiated a bulldozer operation to clear vegetation on Kancha Gachibowli land, near the University of Hyderabad.
The land was being prepared for auction by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC).
A total of 133 individuals have been booked across these 11 FIRs. Among them are 56 students—two of whom are still in jail—along with 67 leaders from CPI(M), BJP, and BJYM, eight opposition BRS leaders, and three drone operators.
Additionally, one media house has also been named in an FIR by the police.
The police have registered two separate cases against students in connection with the protest.
In the first case, 54 students were booked under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) — Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences — for participating in a protest on March 30, when officials brought in bulldozers to clear vegetation on Kancha Gachibowli land.
“…(54 students) were planning to stage a protest on the campus against the government’s decision to auction off land in HCU Gachibowli, which may cause obstruction to normal public/passage. As such, I, along with my staff, rushed there and took them into custody to prevent the commission of cognizable offences,” — P. Naresh, Detective Inspector of Police, said in his complaint.
Section 170 of the BNSS is a preventive provision. It allows authorities to detain individuals to prevent potential crimes but does not carry specific punishments. Individuals arrested under this section cannot be detained for more than 24 hours unless further detention is legally justified.
In a separate case, Erram Naveen, a PhD scholar from the Department of Political Science, and Rohit Bondugula, an IoE postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hyderabad, were arrested on the evening of Sunday, March 30. The two were among 52 students initially detained during protests against the Telangana government’s proposed land auction in Kancha Gachibowli.
While the other students were released, Naveen and Bondugula remained in custody at the Gachibowli police station. Later that night, they were informed that an
FIR had been filed against them, leading to their formal arrest.
The two scholars have been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
Section 329(3) – Criminal trespass
Section 18(1) – Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons
Section 132 – Assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty
Section 191(3) – Being armed with a deadly weapon
Section 351(3) – Criminal intimidation
In addition to these student-related FIRs, 64 activists from various political parties — CPI(M), BJP, and BJYM — were also detained under Section 170 BNSS, and an FIR has been registered against them.
Another FIR was also registered against BJP activists under section 170 BNSS when they tried to enter the land through the back side of the university.
Four FIRs have been registered against leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), with multiple leaders named across the cases. Most of these FIRs stem from the alleged circulation of misleading information on social media platforms.
Case 1: Spotted Deer Incident – April 1, 2025
The first FIR, registered on 1 April, names BRS spokesperson Krishank Manne and another user Thomas Augustine, based on a complaint by Sri Laxman, Forest Range Officer, Mrugavani National Park, Chilkur, Moinabad (Ranga Reddy District).
According to the complaint, Laxman received social media posts alleging the death of a spotted deer in Kancha Gachibowli, near the University of Hyderabad (HCU).
He visited the location on 1 April for verification. However, local inquiries yielded no confirmation of such an incident. A thorough search also revealed no evidence or remains of the deer.
“The news circulated on social media appears false and may have been spread with malafide intent to create unnecessary hype,” the FIR notes. The petitioner attached two attested Xerox sheets of posts made by the accounts @Krishank_BRS and Thomas Augustine, citing them for spreading misinformation.
The accused were charged under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
Section 353(1)(b) – Offense against public tranquility
Section 351(1)(c) – Criminal intimidation
Section 353(2) – Circulating false news to incite hatred between groups
Section 192 – Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot
Section 196(1) – Creating ill-will between groups
Section 6(1)(a) and 61(1)(b) – Criminal conspiracy
Case 2: Deer Photo Allegation – 2 April, 2025
In another FIR registered on 2 April, Krishank Manne and two other BRS leaders were named, based on a complaint by Manne Satish Kumar, Chairman of TPCC Social Media.
The complaint stated that several posts on X (formerly Twitter) falsely claimed that a deer was killed during tree-cutting operations by Telangana government officers at Kancha Gachibowli. The image used, according to the complainant, was sourced from the internet and had no link to any government activity.
“The posts were deliberately intended to incite panic, provoke unrest, and disturb public peace,” the FIR claims.
The accused were booked under:
Section 353(2) – Circulating false information
Section 352 – Promoting enmity and public mischief
Case 3: Morphed Social Media Content – 2 April, 2025
Also on 2 April, a third FIR was filed against Krishank Manne and Kontham Dileep, former Digital Media Director of Telangana, following a complaint by Bagannagari Arundawaj Reddy.
The complaint alleged that miscreants associated with the BRS IT Cell used the official Instagram handle of BRS to conspire, create, and circulate misleading content aimed at provoking unrest and misleading the public. The content allegedly included morphed photos and videos related to the HCU land issue.
“Edited clips were widely circulated, causing misrepresentation and inciting student communities,” said the FIR. The petitioner submitted ten attested screenshots and links to the alleged content.
Charges filed include:
Section 351(1)(b) – Criminal intimidation
Section 353(1)(c) – Circulating provocative content
Section 353(2) – Spreading false news
Sections 192, 196(1), 61(1)(a), and 61(1)(b) – Provocation, ill-will, and conspiracy
Case 4: Fake Video with #SaveHCUBiodiversity Hashtag – 1 April, 2025
In the fourth case, again filed against Krishank, NSUI leader Bagannagari Arundwaj Reddy lodged a complaint regarding a video reposted from the BRS Instagram account that allegedly contained morphed visuals of deer appearing in headlights in a forest. The video, tagged #SaveHCUBiodiversity, also carried derogatory remarks against CM A. Revanth Reddy, according to the FIR.
“The video was intended to mislead the public into believing it was genuine and provoke hatred against the state government,” the FIR states. The complainant warned that such videos may incite unrest, particularly among animal lovers and student communities.
The FIR lists similar charges as the previous ones, including:
Sections 353(1)(a), 353(1)(b), 353(2) – Circulation of provocative and false content
Sections 192, 196(1), 61(1)(a), 61(1)(b) – Provocation, conspiracy, and spreading enmity
Reacting to cases against himself, Krishank said : “Supreme Court reaction seems to have caused frustration to the Mohabbat Government. 4 False Police Cases is little too much love rahul Gandhi ji.”
Supreme Court reaction seems to have caused frustration to the Mohabbat Government…
4 False Police Cases is little too much love @RahulGandhi ji https://t.co/mEhRjNpUPp
— Dr.Krishank (@Krishank_BRS) April 3, 2025
Police have registered two cases against three individuals for allegedly operating drones without valid permissions during the protest days near the University of Hyderabad (HCU).
Case 1: Drone Near HCU Main Gate – April 1, 2025
In the first FIR, Parameshwari, Sub-Inspector at Gachibowli Police Station, Cyberabad, stated that she was deployed for bandobust duty at the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) on 1 April.
“While performing her duties around 7:45 PM, she observed a drone flying near the main gate of HCU, in a public area. The drone was being operated by two individuals who, when questioned about their license and permission for drone usage, immediately brought the drone down and attempted to flee,” the FIR states.
Upon further inquiry, the two individuals were identified as:
Mallangi Sai Vijay Reddy, Civil Engineer, resident of Jubilee Hills
Rohan Nagireddy, Businessman, resident of Banjara Hills
Both were taken into custody and brought to the Gachibowli Police Station along with the seized drone and two batteries. The FIR notes that they failed to provide valid documentation authorizing drone use in the area.
They were booked under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Aircraft Act, 1934:
Section 289 – Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
Section 223 – Disobedience to lawful order of a public servant
Section 125 – Rash or negligent act endangering human life
Section 329(3) – Criminal trespass
Section 11(A) read with 5A of the Aircraft Act, 1934 – Wilfully flying an aircraft in a manner that endangers others
Case 2: Drone Over TGIIC Worksite – April 1, 2025
In another case, also dated April 1, the police registered an FIR based on a complaint by B. Madhu, Deputy General Manager of the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC).
According to the FIR, while land leveling work was being carried out in Survey No. 25, Kancha Gachibowli, a drone was observed flying over the area. Upon immediate inspection, officials found the drone was being operated from TNGOs Colony.
The drone operator was identified as:
Arun Raja Gopal Nair, 33 years old, resident of Manikonda
When asked for permission or a license to operate the drone, he failed to produce any valid documents. He was subsequently taken into custody.
A case was registered against him under the same legal provisions as the previous case:
Sections 289, 223, 125, 329(3) of the BNS, and Section 11(A) r/w 5A of the Aircraft Act, 1934
The police have also registered a case against Telugu Scribe, an online media platform, for allegedly flying a drone and posting unauthorised videos related to land-clearing activities in Kancha Gachibowli.
In a complaint filed on 2 April, B Madhu, Deputy General Manager of the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), stated that during land-leveling operations for the proposed multi-use development park, Telugu Scribe illegally flew a drone over the 400-acre site on 31 March, captured video footage, and posted it on social media at 7:32 AM on 1 April.
“Upon further observation, I noticed that the Telugu Scribe channel posted content claiming that the State Government was eradicating greenery using JCBs and deforesting lands in and around HCU. This content provoked students of the University of Hyderabad and members of the general public, spreading misinformation and attempting to breach public peace through illegal means,” the FIR states.
The complaint urged police to take necessary legal action against the platform for capturing and sharing unauthorised aerial footage using a drone.
As a result, the police have booked Telugu Scribe under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
Section 353(1)(b) – Offence against public tranquility
Section 353(1)(c) – Criminal intimidation
Section 353(2) – Circulating false information to promote enmity
Section 192 – Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot
Section 196(1) – Creating ill-will between different groups
Section 61(1)(a) and 61(1)(b) – Criminal conspiracy
These are the same sections under which several BRS leaders have also been booked in related FIRs.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
