The Telangana government has suspended Deputy Collector Ramu Naik over alleged involvement in large-scale land irregularities during his tenure as Land Acquisition Officer in the Housing Board. Revenue and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said a preliminary inquiry found that Ramu Naik was involved in illegal land registrations and unauthorized transactions between 2013 and 2018. He alleged that some officials who were responsible for protecting government assets instead facilitated the illegal transfer of public lands during the previous administration.
According to the minister, the alleged irregularities came to light while officials were identifying Housing Board and government lands within Hyderabad for the construction of Indiramma housing projects. The inquiry revealed that a 33.53-square-yard Housing Board plot near the High Court gates was allegedly registered illegally in February 2018 in the name of the wife of a former Housing Board work inspector who had previously been suspended. The land was later transferred to another individual in 2025, officials said.
The minister further alleged that similar irregularities were detected in several parts of Hyderabad. Government lands measuring 400 square yards in Vijayanagar Colony, 22 square yards in Tuljaguda, 130 square yards in Lakshmiguda, and 497 square yards in Mahboob Ganj were allegedly registered in the names of private individuals. Investigations into all the transactions are currently underway.
Ponguleti said the government would take a final decision on permanently dismissing Ramu Naik after the inquiry is completed and all evidence is examined. Action has also been initiated against other officials allegedly linked to the case, with Superintendent Vivekanand being removed from service and Superintendent Bona Naik placed under suspension. The minister warned that the government would pursue strict departmental and criminal action against anyone found involved in the illegal occupation or transfer of government land.