Controversy has broken out in the state of Telangana in connection with the posting of Gachibowli CI, who filed an FIR in the complaint involving the family firm of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, to the Vacancy Reserve (VR) of the Cyberabad police.
The posting, made several days after the filing of the complaint by the officer concerned, has sparked widespread criticism that the government is covering up the powerful political family. What initially started out as a property issue between the Shahs and local residents in the state of Telangana, has turned out to be a test for police integrity.
As reported in the FIR and according to representatives from the involved families, the conflict revolves around a calculated effort to get possession of nearly 35 acres of land belonging to the Shah family members, Pallavi, Priyanka, Radhika, and Satish Kumar Shah. The land in question is valued at approximately ₹300 crores. The case reportedly began on the 10th of September, 2025, where one acre of land (Survey No. 258/E2) was acquired from one Dinesh Man Singh for ‘only’ ₹21 lakhs and was registered in the name of Harsha Reddy, the son of the minister, whereupon a ‘subsequent’ survey was conducted through an AD at the ‘Rajendranagar RDO’ office, identified as ‘Srinivas,’ and wrongfully included their holdings and nearby government land; armed with that survey, the complaint says, masked men and heavy machinery were used to enter and damage Survey No. 245/A1. Authorities later detained AD Srinivas in an ACB action, a development that has added to suspicions surrounding the episode.
The land dispute hits while there are also parallel federal investigations related to the minister's son. There were claims that Chennai Customs had confiscated two luxury watches in February 2024 that later turned out to be owned by one Harsha Reddy, and that investigations by DRI and ED had widened into a wider watch smuggling racket using crypto-currency and informal channels.
The minister has publicly denied any interference and has been quoted saying that if wrongdoing is proved, “punish my son or me.” Still, the layering of multiple probes has intensified public scrutiny and prompted questions from investors and commentators about accountability in the corridors of power.
Politically, the timing is awkward for the state. Telangana recently hosted the Rising Global Summit 2025 and has been seeking large investments while projecting an image of governance and accountability. Critics point to the contrast between Congress’s vociferous attacks on alleged land scams in other states and its response at home, arguing the party must answer whether its rhetoric on corruption applies equally to its own leaders.
For the Shah family and for those watching the government’s pitch to national and international investors, the immediate demand is simple: a transparent, speedy inquiry that establishes the facts and reassures citizens that property rights and the rule of law will not be subordinated to political influence.
