Telangana HC directs Chief Secretary to relieve IPS officer Ranganath from HYDRAA Commissioner post

In a significant development that could have wider implications for the functioning of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), the Telangana High Court on Monday (July 27, 2026) directed the Chief Secretary to relieve IPS officer A.V. Ranganath from his post as HYDRAA Commissioner and appoint a suitable replacement.

The direction came from Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti while hearing a batch of contempt cases arising out of allegations that HYDRAA officials violated court orders during an operation at a disputed land parcel in Lothkunta.

At the heart of the controversy is a 40 acre property claimed by M/s Shanta Sriram Constructions Private Limited. The company alleged that HYDRAA officials entered the land in July with nearly 50 vehicles and around 200 personnel. According to the petitioner, the officials damaged containers, chairs, tables and other office infrastructure while demolishing tin sheet structures on the premises, asserting that the land belonged to the government.

The dispute has witnessed a series of dramatic judicial interventions over the past week. On July 23, the High Court ordered the deployment of armed forces to protect the 40 acre property. However, the order was subsequently kept in abeyance until July 24 after Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy informed the court that the government would file an affidavit stating that HYDRAA officials had not entered the private land.

The matter took a sharper turn on July 24 when the court directed Mr. Ranganath to submit an affidavit containing an apology and an explanation regarding his alleged interference in the land dispute. Although the affidavit was filed, Justice Jukanti nevertheless proceeded to direct the Chief Secretary to relieve the officer from the HYDRAA Commissioner post.

For the State government, the challenge now extends beyond appointing a new HYDRAA Commissioner. The episode highlights the need for greater institutional safeguards, transparency in enforcement actions and strict adherence to judicial orders to prevent similar controversies in the future.