Hyderabad: The Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRA), AV Ranganath, issued a stern warning on Wednesday against individuals involved in extortion by falsely using the name HYDRA. He made it clear that anyone caught in such activities will face jail time.
The warning came after reports emerged of scammers who are threatening people by pretending to be associated with HYDRA and demanding money. Ranganath urged the public to report any such incidents immediately. He emphasized that those participating in these scams will face strict legal action.
Ranganath explained that some individuals, posing as social activists, are approaching builders and blackmailing them by claiming that their structures are in areas like full tank levels or buffer zones of lakes. These scammers falsely claim to have close contacts with senior officials in HYDRA and threaten to lodge complaints against the builders.
He also mentioned that even residents in high-rise buildings are being targeted by these fraudsters, who demand money by falsely claiming they can influence HYDRA to ensure no action is taken against their properties.
The HYDRA Commissioner advised the public not to trust such people. He encouraged builders, companies, households, and others to file complaints with the police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), or HYDRA if anyone, including officials from Revenue, Municipal Administration, Irrigation, or other departments, demands money.
Ranganath reassured citizens that law enforcement is actively investigating these cases. He urged anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the authorities’ commitment to stopping and preventing extortion.
