The Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested four people after simultaneous raids at several locations across the state. The action is part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Dharani land records portal, the state’s agricultural land transactions platform.
A total of 15 CID teams carried out the operation on Thursday night and Friday. They detained several Dharani portal operators and private individuals in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal, Bhuvanagiri, Gajwel and other places. Those detained were taken to the CID office in Hyderabad for questioning. After preliminary inquiries, investigators established the alleged role of four individuals and arrested them.
The raids follow findings by a Special Enquiry Team (SET), which the state government set up to examine alleged irregularities in Dharani. The seven-member committee is headed by CID Director General Charu Sinha. It includes IAS and IPS officers and technical experts, and it has been reviewing the matter for the past few days.
According to sources, the committee’s forensic examination found the involvement of Dharani portal operators working in revenue offices, along with unauthorised individuals. Investigators reportedly found evidence that unauthorised persons accessed the portal and changed ownership records of valuable land parcels. The districts named are Medchal-Malkajgiri, Medak, Vikarabad, Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Siddipet and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri. The probe indicated that portal operators played a key role in facilitating the alleged transactions.
Investigators are also looking at cases involving valuable land parcels around Hyderabad that have been pending before courts for several years. Sources said some individuals allegedly used interim court orders to change ownership of valuable properties. Court orders relating to certain land parcels were also reportedly applied to unrelated properties to secure ownership rights. The committee has examined complaints that ownership rights over assigned Bhoodan lands were changed using fake survey numbers.
A forensic audit reportedly identified digital footprints that could establish where, when and by whom the portal was accessed, the software used to log in and the changes made to land records. The CID launched its latest operation based on these findings, sources said. Senior CID officials have maintained secrecy over the operation, and further details are expected to emerge in the next couple of days.
