Hyderabad: "Are you the Chief Minister or a real estate agent?" asked BRSLP Deputy Leader T Harish Rao referring to Revanth Reddy for the proposal of the government to auction the 10.63 acres of heritage land located at Raidurg. 

In an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the BRSLP leader demanded immediate cancellation of the proposed auction by TGIIC in Survey No. 83/1 at Raidurg Panmaktha village, scheduled for August 17 and 21. 

Despite serious issues relating to its heritage status, competing ownership claims and ongoing legal disputes, the government has proposed the auction, he said, asking the Chief Minister whether the government was acting as a custodian of public assets or as a real estate agency. 

He pointed out the said land was declared a heritage site under GO 4, Municipal Administration Department, dated January 2, 2003. 

He recalled that Chief Minister had approached the Telangana High Court in 2020 seeking protection against the creation of third-party interests in land falling within the same Survey No. 83. 

He questioned how the same person, after becoming Chief Minister, could now permit an auction that would create fresh third-party rights over disputed property. 

Rao said that the proposed auction assumes greater significance because 6.2 acres from the same survey had earlier been auctioned for approximately Rs 237 crore per acre, following which the State Bank of India asserted ownership rights and approached the court. 

The matter is presently pending before the Telangana High Court. Despite the ownership dispute concerning the earlier parcel remaining sub judice, the government is now proceeding to auction another 10.63 acres, divided into two plots of approximately 5.25 acres and 5.38 acres. 

Harish Rao questioned the administrative prudence of creating further third-party interests in the same disputed survey number. 

Harish Rao questioned why the government was in such a hurry to auction land worth Rs 2,000 crore when it had not conclusively established the ownership and legal status of the property. 

Rao warned prospective bidders that purchasing the disputed land through the proposed auction could expose them to serious and prolonged legal complications, particularly if the competing title, heritage and Waqf claims are subsequently upheld by the competent authorities.