CM accuses BRS of covering up Formula-E scandal 

Assembly passes new land law Bhu Bharati

The Telangana Assembly passed the Telangana Bhu Bharati (Record of Rights in Land) Bill, 2024 with a voice vote on Friday after the main Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) staged a walk-out.  Other Opposition parties Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Communist Party of India (CPI) participated in the debate and welcomed the new legislation by suggesting some changes.

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Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy raised serious concerns regarding the Dharani land portal and its associated irregularities, emphasizing the need for strong protective laws for landowners in the state. He highlighted multiple issues related to the Dharani system, including the involvement of foreign entities and the mishandling of sensitive land data. 

The assembly proceedings on Friday were marred by BRS protests for the most part of the day demanding a discussion on the Formula-E race issue. Amidst the pandemonium, the treasury and opposition benches, barring the BRS, took part in discussion on Bhu Bharati Bill.

Participating in the debate on Bhu Bharati bill 2024, Revanth Reddy criticized the Dharani portal, initially introduced by former CM KCR with former IT Minister KTR also involved in it, for its lack of accountability. He revealed that the portal, which was meant to digitize land records, had been handed over to a series of companies, including foreign firms with questionable backgrounds.

Revanth exposed how companies linked to foreign entities, including Falcon SG (Philippines) and Falcon Investments (Singapore), gained control over Telangana's land data, despite the fact that the system should have been managed by local, credible authorities. 

Govt orders forensic audit on 'Dharani' portal

Minister for Revenue Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has announced that the State government is initiating a forensic audit of the Dharani portal, which serves as the land records management system. During a discussion on the Bhu Bharathi Bill in the Assembly on Friday, the Minister stated that a comprehensive investigation would be undertaken regarding the Dharani system. He charged that under the previous administration, land valued in the thousands of crores changed ownership, 

He called attention to the severe risks posed by foreign companies, based in tax havens like the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, managing Telangana’s land data and related transactions, urging for accountability and immediate scrutiny.

These decisions have raised concerns over data security and the potential misuse of sensitive information, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said.

Further highlighting the flaws in the Dharani portal, the CM questioned why land transactions were carried out under secrecy and why the system was manipulated to benefit private entities, including companies with criminal backgrounds.

Revanth Reddy pointed out that several land transfers, especially of Bhoodan lands, were carried out under the Dharani system without proper government authorization. 

In some cases, these transfers took place at midnight, bypassing regulations meant to ensure transparency.

The CM criticized the system's failure to adhere to legal requirements, such as obtaining government permission to change land ownership records. 

Chief Minister Reddy emphasized the seriousness of this issue, calling for immediate investigation and action to protect the rights of people.

To counter these irregularities, the government has introduced the Bhu Bharati-2024 Bill, aimed at safeguarding the rights of landowners and ensuring that farmers' land is protected from illegal encroachments and unauthorized transfers.

with properties involved in litigation being categorised under Party-B and subsequently regularized. Furthermore, he claimed that BRS leaders wrongfully appropriated lands belonging to economically disadvantaged communities, including backward classes and Scheduled Tribes, under the guise of the Dharani portal.  The Minister alleged that these leaders engaged in the indiscriminate registration of unlawfully obtained lands for their associates. In certain instances, landowners were absent, having relocated to Pakistan; nevertheless, the BRS leaders seized those properties, asserting that the authorities had issued no objection certificates. He noted that these lands were registered illegally by only three or four individuals.

He reiterated that the Bhu Bharati Act will cover everyone who owns land and will protect the interests of the people. The Minister said the way BRS members behaved in the Assembly today was not satisfactory.

Stating that the main opposition party has not right to insult a Dalit Speaker, he accused the BRS leaders of conspiring to prevent the Bhu Bharathi Bill from being discussed in the Assembly.