Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forests and Environment, Pawan Kalyan, has ordered the filing of criminal cases against former minister and YSRCP leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and his family for allegedly encroaching upon forest lands in Chittoor district. He also directed that cases be booked under relevant forest laws in addition to criminal charges.

Pawan Kalyan instructed senior forest department officials to identify and take disciplinary action against government personnel who failed to prevent the encroachments. “Officials who couldn’t stop such large-scale illegal occupation must be held accountable,” the Deputy CM stated during a departmental review.

These orders follow a detailed report submitted to the Deputy CM by the Director General of Vigilance and Enforcement, who conducted a probe into allegations of land grabbing by the Peddireddy family. The report confirmed that the family had illegally occupied forest, government, and temple lands in Mangalamapeta village of Chittoor district. The DG recommended criminal prosecution against the encroachers and departmental action against responsible officials.

A three-member joint committee, comprising the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and Forest Conservator, previously submitted a fact-finding report to the state government confirming encroachments of 27 acres of forest land by the Peddireddy family.

The joint committee's findings reveal that the family dug borewells in forest areas without authorization and used the land for personal purposes. Although they possessed registration documents for 75.74 acres, fencing was erected for 103 acres, indicating illegal occupation of an additional 27.98 acres.

According to the 1968 Mangalamapeta Forest Gazette, only a 2.413-kilometer road with a width of 30 feet was permitted through the forest. However, the Peddireddy family reportedly constructed a 2.50-kilometer road—87 meters longer than the permitted limit.

The committee also questioned land transactions and revenue record modifications that occurred in 2001, 2002, and 2017 involving survey numbers 295, 296, and 299, suggesting irregularities in how forest and assigned lands were converted into private holdings.

Pawan Kalyan held a high-level review with top forest officials and instructed them to act swiftly and in accordance with the Vigilance DG’s recommendations. The case marks a significant development in the state government’s stance against high-profile land grabbing and illegal use of protected areas.

With the Deputy CM’s intervention, this case is expected to set a precedent for accountability, not only for influential encroachers but also for public officials who fail in their duty to protect public and forest lands.