Hyderabad: Madhapur police have registered a case against BRS MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy and another individual, Venkat Reddy, for allegedly encroaching upon approximately five acres of Durgam Cheruvu lake land.
The case was filed under Sections 329(3) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, based on a complaint submitted by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA).
Allegations and timeline
According to the HYDRAA complaint filed by supervisor Kranti Anand, the accused have been encroaching on the lake area since 2014, despite the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) issuing a Full Tank Level (FTL) primary notification for Durgam Cheruvu that year.
The complaint states that the accused filled portions of the lake with soil and stones, converting the encroached land into a commercial parking facility for STS private transport vehicles.
Authorities allege the illegal operation generated rental income of up to Rs 50 lakh per month from parking fees collected for school buses and IT company vehicles.
HYDRAA enforcement action
On December 30, 2025, HYDRAA teams cleared nearly five acres of encroachments near Inorbit Mall on the Madhapur side of the lake. Acting on a complaint received through Prajavani, HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath ordered a field inquiry that confirmed the illegal occupation.
Officials evacuated all parked vehicles, erected temporary fencing to secure the reclaimed land, and stated that dumped soil, reportedly filled up to 10-15 meters deep, would be removed to restore the original lake boundary. The following day, HYDRAA filed the formal complaint with the Madhapur police, leading to the registration of the FIR.
Lake encroachment history
Satellite imagery from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) reveals that Durgam Cheruvu has shrunk significantly over the decades due to encroachments. Originally spread across nearly 160 acres, the lake had reduced to 131.66 acres by 1976 after losing 29 acres to illegal occupation.
Between 1995 and 2000, another 10 acres were encroached upon, and subsequent encroachments have brought the current water spread to approximately 116 acres.
The lake has faced encroachments on three sides, with only the northern side remaining relatively free of illegal structures.
BRS MLA refutes encroachment allegations
BRS MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy has strongly refuted the Durgam Cheruvu encroachment allegations against him, dismissing them as politically motivated and “completely baseless.”
Denying claims that he encroached upon five acres of lake land, the legislator asserted, “We don’t have even a yard of land there, nor does the government have a yard of land there.”
He challenged authorities to produce evidence if they genuinely have proof of encroachment, alleging the case was filed with malicious intent.
The MLA clarified that the area in question has been used for vehicle parking and waste dumping by various parties for years, describing it as a common practice on vacant land near roads and trees.
He pointed out that properties belonging to actor Balakrishna and Lahari Estates’ Hari Babu are located nearby, questioning why he was specifically targeted.
Ready to fight case legally: MLA
Prabhakar Reddy stated he is “ready for anything” if anyone can prove he encroached on government land, and announced plans to fight the case legally while cooperating fully with police investigations.
Issuing a stern warning, the BRS legislator threatened to stage protests in front of houses constructed within the FTL (Full Tank Level) area if the case is not withdrawn unconditionally.
He maintained that vehicle parking in the area is normal and accused authorities of filing the case based on a complaint to HYDRAA without proper verification.
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