The N Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh has taken serious note of reports alleging the encroachment of forest lands by senior YSR Congress party leader and former minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and his family in Chittoor district.
Forest and revenue officials have prepared detailed reports on the illegal land acquisitions in Mangalam Peta revenue village, located in Pulicherla Mandal under the Punganur constituency.
While Chief Minister Naidu is holding an official meeting to review the reports of alleged land encroachments by Peddireddy, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who holds the forest portfolio, has also called for an independent report from the forest department authorities on the same issue.
According to the preliminary inquiry report, Peddireddy’s family allegedly encroached on 75 acres of forest land, including areas in Punganur, Tamballapalle, and Renigunta Mandals.
The report also highlights tampering with land records and illegal acquisitions under benami (proxy) names.
As per the land report, there is a private land parcel measuring 17.69 acres in Survey No. 295 and another six acres in Survey No. 296 in a remote forest area of Mangalam Peta revenue village. This land is surrounded by reserved forest.
The entire patta land in these survey numbers is currently under the possession of Peddireddy’s family.
Records further reveal that in the years 2000 and 2001, 45.8 acres of land in these survey numbers were registered under the names of Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, his son Mithun Reddy, and other family members, including Peddireddy Lakshmireddy and Peddireddy Indiramma.
The sale deeds indicate that the land was purchased from individuals named Desireddy Sarveshwar Reddy, Chengareddy, Sriramulu Reddy, and Mangamma. As a result, the original land area of 23.69 acres has now increased to 45.8 acres.
Subsequently, the family acquired additional land, bringing the total land under their possession to 75.75 acres.
Investigations are now focused on identifying when these survey numbers were subdivided and how the Peddireddy family’s landholding increased beyond the actual available land.
Officials are also probing who assisted in manipulating these records.
