Hyderabad: The Commissioner’s Task Force (North) Zone in collaboration with the Gopalpuram police on Tuesday, August 20 arrested three people accused of phone snatching.

The accused were identified as Mohammed Mastan, 22 a resident of Ranigunj, Mohammed Yakub, 23 a resident of Secunderabad and Syed Mastan, 23 a resident of Musheerabad. The police recovered five mobile phones from them.

Mohammed Masthan was previously booked in two NDPS cases by Malakpet and Osmania University police; Yakub was booked in four cases, including murder and attempted murder, by Gopalpuram and Secunderabad police. Syed was booked under the NDPS Act by the Musheerabad police.

“The public is hereby advised to safeguard their belongings and make use of dial 100 to inform the police of the police of any such information and to cooperate with police authorities in the prevention and detection of crime as well,” said an advisory from the police

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Hyderabad: Telangana Civil Supplies and Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy predicted a significant boom in Hyderabad’s real estate and construction industry, driven by a series of innovative and ambitious projects announced by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka, and IT & Industries minister D Sridhar Babu.

Speaking at the state conference of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) Telangana at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) on Tuesday, August 20, which had the theme ‘Telangana Going Global,’ Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed his confidence that Hyderabad was on the verge of witnessing a major real estate boom.

He noted the palpable sense of excitement surrounding the city’s imminent growth.

Uttam credits Congress

Uttam Kumar Reddy credited the earlier Congress government for laying the groundwork with world-class infrastructure projects such as the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, the 162-km-long Nehru Outer Ring Road, PVNR Expressway, Hyderabad Metro Rail, and the supply of drinking water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers.

He highlighted that the present Congress government, under chief minister Revanth Reddy, had announced several landmark development projects for Hyderabad, including the Future City at Mucherla, the Skill Development University, the expansion of the Metro Rail, and the proposed Musi Riverfront Development project.

These projects, he said, had created an atmosphere conducive to growth, not only in Hyderabad but also in tier-2 and tier-3 cities across Telangana, which were likely to see substantial development.

Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized that with the efforts of chief minister Revanth Reddy and Industries minister Sridhar Babu, there was likely to be a surge in investment in the IT, software, and manufacturing sectors across Telangana. “Hyderabad’s real estate is set to boom,” he asserted.

Uttam lauds R&B minister Komatireddy for RRR

He also praised Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkatreddy for playing an important role in bringing the prestigious Regional Ring Road to Telangana and lauded the participation of CREDAI members from across Telangana at the conference.

Uttam Kumar Reddy assured the CREDAI members that the Congress government was committed to taking Telangana to the next level.

“In all your business and building activities, our government is with you,” he said. He emphasized the importance of rapid urbanization in Telangana, which had reached nearly 45%, and highlighted the crucial role of the real estate and construction industry in the state’s development.

“The 29th and youngest state in India is scripting a new growth story. While the growth focus may currently be on Hyderabad, the entire state of Telangana has immense potential for high growth,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Drawing on his extensive political career, he reassured industry leaders of the government’s support, stating, “Your growth, your business activity, your construction and real estate activity – we are with you.”

Bhongir MLA Anil, IGBC National Vice Chairman C Sekhar Reddy, and other dignitaries were present at the event.

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Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy inspected the State Secretariat premises to install the Telangana Talli statue. The chief minister already announced that the Telangana Talli statue will be installed in the Secretariat premises on December 9.

The chief minister made it clear several times that the Secretariat, which is the epicentre of the state administration, is the suitable place for the installation of the Telangana Talli statue with pride and utmost respect, a press release said.

The chief minister reiterated the installation of the Telangana Talli statue in the Secretariat while participating in former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary celebrations on Tuesday, August 20.

During the inspection, he discussed with the officials the suitable location to install the statue, the requirement of space and design plans.

The chief minister suggested that the Telangana Talli statue should reflect the Telangana culture and ordered the officials to prepare detailed plans for the installation of the statue.

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Hyderabad: Rajya Sabha MP M Anil Kumar Yadav on Tuesday, August 20, filed a complaint with the Saifabad police station against BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) accusing the latter of making defamatory statements against Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, claiming the remarks not only harmed the reputation of the chief minister but also that of the entire state.

Yadav in his complaint stated that KTR, in his recent X post, has referred to Revanth as ‘Cheap Minister Revanth’ and ‘Delhi Ghulam’.

“Mark my words Cheap Minister Revanth We will clear out the trash from the surroundings of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar secretariat the very same day we are back in office Can’t expect a Delhi Ghulam like you to ever understand self-respect & pride of Telangana Using filthy language in front of school children shows your lousy thinking & uncouth upbringing Wish you speedy healing from your mental sickness,” read KTR’s X post.

Yadav stated that the words used by the BRS working president were damaging and defamatory.

“The Hon’ble Chief Minister is working hard for the welfare of the State of Telangana. By insinuating the hon’ble Chief Minister as the ‘Slave of Delhi,’ Sri KT Rama Rao damaged the reputation of the State of Telangana,” stated in his complaint, requesting the police to file a criminal case against KTR.

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Hyderabad: Expressing his displeasure over the delay in waiving off farm loans of the farmers, deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka said that though the state government has released Rs 18,000 crore to the banks, only loans amounting to Rs 7,500 crore were waived off by the banks.

During the 42nd state-level bankers’ first quarter review meeting held at Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan on Tuesday, August 20, Vikramarka urged the bankers to work with concern, and not to confine themselves merely to statistics and calculations.

Observing that micro, small and medium-scale enterprises were generating maximum employment, he urged the bankers to sanction loans heavily to those industries.

He also sought bankers’ help in giving interest-free loans to self-help groups under the ‘Indira Mahila Shakti Scheme’ for the empowerment of women entrepreneurs, adding that the state government planned to give one lakh crore interest-free loans to SHGs in the next five years.

He expressed happiness over the encouraging performance of the banks in the first quarter of the financial year 2024-25 towards advances to the priority sectors. Appreciating the bankers, he said that in the first quarter itself, 40.62% of the annual credit plan for the priority sectors was achieved.

He hoped that bankers would exceed the set targets for credit plan in the coming quarter of the financial year.

Some important numbers presented by bankers at the SLBC meeting

• Total deposits increased by Rs 2,005 crore in the first quarter, with total deposits in all banks standing at Rs 7,81,959 crore.
• Total advances increased by Rs 16,289 crore, with total advances in all banks being Rs 9,95,348 crore.
• The cash deposit (CD) ratio was pegged above 100%, increasing from 125.53% to 127.29%.
• Short-term production loans for Kharif were Rs 17,383 crore in the first quarter, which was 35.56% of the target set for the financial year.
• Banks disbursed Rs 23,848 crore as investment credit to agriculture, its allied sectors and agri-infrastructure by the first quarter, achieving 45.65% of the target for the financial year.
• Banks disbursed Rs 220.49 crore for educational loans and Rs 984.34 crore for housing loans under priority sector lending.
• Banks disbursed Rs 57,079 crore as loans for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) segment, achieving 44.03% of the target for the financial year by the first quarter.
• Banks sanctioned Rs 1,987 crore under PM Mudra Yojna, which was 21.49% of its annual target.
• Under the Agri-infrastructure fund, banks sanctioned Rs 2,811 crore out of their accumulated target of Rs 3,200 crore this financial year.
• Under the PM Swanidhi scheme, out of 6,85,879 applications received in three tranches, 6,76,891 vendors received loans.

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Hyderabad: In yet another reshuffle in the state bureaucracy, the Telangana government has transferred six IAS officers. The orders to this effect were issued on Tuesday, August 20.

Amrapali Kata, IAS, 2010 batch, has been transferred from her position as Joint Commissioner of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to serve as the Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

M Dana Kishore, IAS, batch 1996, Principal Secretary to the Government, Municipal Administration, and Urban Development (MA & UD) Department, has been given the full additional charge of Managing Director of Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited. Thus relieving Amrapali Kata of her additional responsibilities.

The following transfers and postings are notified:

Sri Sa.rfaraz Ahmad, IAS, batch 2009, Metropolitan Commissioner, HMDA is placed in full additional. charge of the post of Managing Director, Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited

Kota Sreevatsa, IAS, batch 2017, Additional Commissioner, GHMC, is transferred and posted as Joint Commissioner, HMDA

Chahat Bajpai, IAS, batch 2019, who is waiting for posting, is posted as Municipal Commissioner, Karimnagar Municipal corporation

Mayank Mittat, IAS, batch 2020, Addl. Collector (LB), Narayanpet, is transferred and posted as Executive Director, HMWS&SB.

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Hyderabad: Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials caught red handed an official of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) after she demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs. 30,000 for doing official work.

The official, Spoorthy Reddy, a manager of HMWSSB’s Division 18 at Manikonda, had demanded the bribe through an outsourced worker Naveen Goud from B Upendranath Reddy. The complainant is a resident of Neknampur and wanted to ‘process and issuance of two new water connections for a newly constructed building’.

Based on a complaint, the ACB laid a trap and caught them red handed. The amount was recovered from Naveen Goud. His hand fingers yielded positive results in the chemical test. Reddy and Goud were arrested and produced before the principal special judge for SPE and ACB cases court at Nampally.

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Hyderabad: Tukaram Gate police on Monday, August 19 arrested a smartphone snatcher and his accomplice, recovering six stolen smartphones from their possession at the Ganga Jamuna Hotel, Tukaram Gate Main Road, Secunderabad.

The accused have been identified as Basamalla Praveen Kumar, 25, a resident of Medchal-Malkajgiri and Basawaraj Hugar, 55, a native of Karnataka, who used to buy stolen goods from Kumar. 

Following an investigation, the accused were arrested for snatching two phones as reported on August 16 and 17 at Tukaram Gate police station.

According to the police, the arrested duo have confessed to the crime. The accused were produced before the XXII additional civil Judge, Secunderabad, for judicial custody.

Hyderabad police urged citizens to make use of dial 100 for reporting crime and ensure safety.

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Hyderabad: A 36-year-old woman was strangled to death allegedly by her husband in Shadnagar on Sunday night, August 18, as he suspected an extramarital affair.

The victim has been identified as Anuradha, a film artist who lived with the accused, Shivaramaiah. Their daughter lived in Mallikarjun Colony in Hasthinapuram.

Speaking to Siasat.com, an official from the Shadnagar police station stated that the couple engaged in frequent arguments over trivial issues.

“On Sunday night, the situation escalated when the accused suspected his wife of having an extramarital affair. This suspicion led to a heated argument and a physical altercation. In a fit of rage, the accused strangled his wife, Anuradha, resulting in her death,” he added.

“The following morning, the accused contacted his daughter, claiming that Anuradha had died by suicide. Since then, the accused has been on the run,” the official added. 

Based on the complaint of the victim’s daughter, police registered a case and are examining CCTV footage to trace the accused.

Further investigation is ongoing.

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Hyderabad: Seeking an intervention from chief minister A Revanth Reddy and Hyderabad Disaster Response, Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRAA) commissioner AV Ranganath towards the urgent need for protecting certain lakes in Rajendranagar and Bandlaguda areas, social activist Dr Lubna Sarwath wrote to them seeking HYDRA’s urgent intervention in clearing illegal and unauthorised structures in those lakes, causing inundation and flooding of several residential colonies.

In a video released by Dr Sarwath on Tuesday, August 20, she highlighted how Surram Cheruvu in Bandlaguda, Palle Cheruvu in Rajendranagar, and Yerrakunta of Shaheen Nagar were being encroached.

She said that even in the 2020 floods, Nabeel Colony, Habeeb Colony, Mohammed Nagar and other colonies lying between Yerrakunta, Surram Cheruvu and another lake got flooded due to Yerrakunta’s nala getting encroached.

She pointed out that there was a case filed by her on Surram Cheruvu in Lokayukta, and on Palle Cheruvu in the High Court.

She had alleged that there was plotting and construction in the full tank level (FTL) and buffer zone of Palle Cheruvu and that high-rise buildings were built inside the Surram Cheruvu with no permission.

Explaining how the flooding was taking place, she said that the water flowing from Balapur Cheruvu and Shukur Sagar lying upstream of Yerrakunta and Surram Cheruvu, flows through Umdasagar’s outflow channel, going through Dabeerpura and Reinbazaar before joining the Musi River.

Due to the encroachment of the Nala near Palle Cheruvu (which has almost vanished), and the FTL/buffer zone of all these lakes, she observes that the entire area has become prone to flooding.

Super-imposing the survey of India’s map extract on the Google Earth map, she explained how the encroachments have been increasing over the years, even as she has been filing cases in the courts of law since 2018 to protect these lakes.

“During the 2020 floods, the Gurram Cheruvu near Salala Barkas was filled, and to protect the encroachments, the then chief engineer broke the weir instead of operating the tank’s sluice. Near Millath Nagar in Rajendranagar, a lake went missing out of records,” she alleged.

She informed that due to the heavy downpour during the last couple of days, massive amounts of water were entering the area around Palle Cheruvu and Yerrakunta and that the locals were being threatened by the encroachers when questioned about the nala encroachment there.

“I would like to draw the urgent attention of the HYDRAA Commissioner through the chief minister who is the chairperson of HYDRAA, to revive this area because we are yet to face September and October when the chance of floods is more,” she cautioned.

She also said that she was receiving many calls about landfilling happening in Jalpally Cheruvu.

“With a due apology and condolences for the family of Vijay ( a 43-year-old daily wager) who lost his precious life due to rains, we have to quickly move to Hyderabad and ensure ‘the rain is a mercy and not terror,” she added.

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Hyderabad: The Nizam’s Museum at Purani Haveli, Hyderabad is looking for a passionate and skilled ‘Curator’ to join its team and help preserve the rich heritage of the Nizams.

Prospective candidates who have a love for history and culture are being given a chance to lead the curation and conservation of the priceless collections at the historic museum.

Interested candidates can apply for the position on the museum’s website.

Nizam’s Museum, also known as H.E.H. Nizam’s Museum, is situated in Purani Haveli, Hyderabad. It was established to showcase the gifts and memorabilia received by the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, during his silver jubilee celebrations in 1937.

The museum was officially opened to the public on February 18, 2000, by the Nizam Trust.

The museum houses an impressive collection of over 800 artifacts, each with its own unique story. Among the most notable exhibits is the magnificent golden throne that was used during the silver jubilee celebrations.

Visitors are also drawn to the exquisite gold tiffin box, which is intricately inlaid with diamonds. Another highlight is the remarkable 176-foot-long wardrobe made of Burma teak, said to be the largest of its kind in the world.

This wardrobe showcases the elaborate costumes worn by the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, who famously wore them just once before gifting them away.

Additionally, the museum features a collection of vintage cars, including a 1930 Rolls-Royce, Packard, and Jaguar Mark V, which further illustrate the lavish lifestyle of the Nizams.

Other artefacts include silver ittardans (perfume containers), miniature replicas of significant buildings in Hyderabad, and various decorative arts that reflect the rich cultural heritage of the region.

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Hyderabad: A team of Mixed Martial Artists (MMA) athletes from India is travelling to Pakistan for the Asian championship.

The team comprising athletes from Hyderabad and Telangana is participating in the IMMAF Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship 2024 taking place in Lahore Pakistan from August 17-22. The 12-member team is being coached by renowned Hyderabad MMA trainer Shaik Khalid.

In this regard, MMA India President Sharif Mohammed Babu Tottiyil wrote a letter to the external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Union sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandvya seeking a travel advisory and guidelines for the Indian team during their stay in Pakistan.

“I trust this letter finds you well. I am writing to inform you about the participation of the Indian Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) team in the forthcoming Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship, scheduled to take place in Lahore, Pakistan, from August 17th to August 22nd, 2024”

“As the President of the Mixed Martial Arts Association of India (MMA India), it is my privilege to lead our national team to participate in this prestigious event. The Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championship represents a crucial opportunity for our athletes to compete at an elite level, gain international exposure, and promote our country’s prowess in the sport. ” Mohammed said in a letter to the external affairs minister.

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Hyderabad: A complaint has been lodged against Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy by BRS leaders at the Punjagutta police station on Tuesday night, against the “deeply abusive, offensive, defamatory, and unparliamentary language” he used against former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) during an event held at Punjagutta on Tuesday on the occasion of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

Attaching the excerpts of Revanth Reddy’s speech, BRS MLA Muta Gopal, and leaders Dasoju Sravan, Balka Suman and Gellu Srinivas alleged that the former’s words and actions had the potential to incite violence, disturb public peace, and damage the moral fabric of our community, which they claimed, was illegal and criminal in nature.

“The offensive language and ugly behaviour exhibited by Shri Revanth Reddy during this event are disrespect even to Shri Rajiv Gandhi constituting serious offenses under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including but not limited to Section 153A, Section 294, Section 500, Section 504,” the complaint read.

The BRS leaders accused Revanth Reddy of escalating his speech to a dangerous level by instigating his party cadre with remarks that could be perceived as delusional and inciting violence.

“His threats of violent consequences, coupled with extremely foul language, represent a clear and present danger to public order. His baseless and personal attacks on Shri KCR were not only disrespectful but also illegal, reflecting behaviour unbecoming of a Chief Minister. Such actions undermine the dignity of the office he holds and set a dangerous precedent for public discourse,” the complaint read.

The BRS leaders urged the police to take immediate and stringent legal action as per law against Revanth Reddy, for his “act of inciting violence.”

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Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has directed its Registry to publish a notice inviting claims or objections from bona fide investors of Margadarsi Financiers. The notice will be published in English, Hindi and Telugu newspapers.

This order was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Namavarapu Rajeshwar Rao while hearing criminal petitions filed in 2011 by Margadarsi Financiers and its late chairman Ramoji Rao.

The petitions sought a stay on criminal prosecution against them for allegedly collecting deposits from investors in violation of RBI guidelines.

The Supreme Court had earlier referred the matter to the Telangana High Court for a detailed scrutiny of Margadarsi’s deposits and whether they were returned to all depositors. The SC also directed the High Court to appoint a former judge to supervise the scrutiny process.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed the High Court that Margadarsi is liable for prosecution for violating RBI guidelines.

The High Court is now awaiting claims or objections from Margadarsi’s investors before proceeding further in the matter.

In 2008, former Congress MP Undavalli Arun Kumar filed a complaint that led the then united Andhra Pradesh government to initiate criminal prosecution against Margadarsi Financiers, a move later upheld by a magistrate court.

Arun Kumar alleged that Margadarsi Financiers collected deposits from the public amounting to ₹2,610 crores as of March 31, 2006.

He argued that the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) structure, being an unincorporated association, is not recognized as a juristic person and therefore prohibited from collecting deposits under Section 45S(1) of the RBI Act.

On December 31, 2018, the Hyderabad High Court dismissed the criminal prosecution against Margadarsi Financiers and its chairman, Ramoji Rao.

Arun Kumar challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, which found issues with the High Court’s ruling and sent the case back to the Telangana High Court for a fresh hearing.

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Hyderabad: Intellectuals from various sectors of Telangana society have expressed their strong opposition to the Congress government’s plan to install a statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in front of the Telangana Secretariat.

In an open letter addressed to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, notable figures such as Prof Haragopal, Tankasala Ashok, Allam Narayana, Goreti Venkanna, and Mallepally Laxmaiah voiced their concerns, arguing that this decision undermines the cultural identity of the Telangana people.

The letter emphasizes that the existing statue of Telangana Talli is a significant symbol of the region’s culture, heritage, and pride. The intellectuals contend that replacing it with Rajiv Gandhi’s statue is not just a matter of removing a monument; it represents an attempt to erase the identity and spirit of the Telangana people, who fought valiantly for statehood.

They highlight that Telangana Talli embodies the language, traditions, and collective memory of the struggles for self-respect and autonomy, and its removal would be deeply hurtful to the community.

The signatories also point out that while Rajiv Gandhi is respected, he does not hold the same cultural significance for the state’s people as Telangana Talli.

They suggest that his statue could be placed in a more suitable location that respects the sentiments of the people.

The letter calls for the retention of the Telangana Talli statue and a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to honouring the cultural aspirations of the Telangana populace.

“During the Telangana Armed Struggle, prominent poets such as Dasarathi and Ravella Venkatarama Rao wrote poems and songs celebrating the idea of Telangana Talli. This concept, which had been mocked and overlooked during the united Andhra Pradesh era, saw a resurgence during the later phase of the statehood movement for Telangana,” they said.

They called on the state government to rethink its decision, labelling it unacceptable to the public. They emphasized the importance of honouring the people’s sentiments and preserving cultural symbols, asserting that this is crucial for maintaining the dignity and unity of society.

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Hyderabad: BRS has announced plans for statewide protests and dharnas on August 22, demanding the Congress government implement the farm loan waiver scheme without conditions.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao criticized the state government for extending the loan waiver to only 40% of eligible farmers.

He pointed out that there is confusion among farmers due to conflicting statements from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other ministers.

While the chief minister claimed that all eligible individuals received a loan waiver of up to 2 lakh, some ministers have stated that the waiver process is still incomplete.

KTR emphasized that farmers who have not received their waivers are struggling to resolve their issues at local offices.

Former minister Harish Rao questioned the credibility of the Congress government regarding the loan waiver announcements.

He pointed out that chief minister A Revanth Reddy claimed at a meeting in Khammam that the loan waiver had been fully implemented with an allocation of Rs 18,000 crore.

However, the deputy chief minister later stated that the total completed amount was Rs 31,000 crore, while Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy mentioned an additional Rs 12,000 crore would be released. Rao asked, “Whom should the people believe?”

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Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka has credited former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for making Hyderabad an IT hub. He stated that the former PM laid the foundation for the IT sector in Hyderabad.

Speaking at a meeting organized to mark Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary at Somajiguda Circle on Tuesday, he said the government would continue to advance Rajiv Gandhi’s Technology Mission.

Bhatti responds to BRS leaders over IT sector in Hyderabad

Reacting to the remarks made by BRS leaders about the development of the IT sector, Bhatti asked, “Shouldn’t the person who claims to have studied abroad and worked as IT Minister know who contributed to the development of the IT sector in Hyderabad?”

“It was Rajiv Gandhi who introduced mobile phone technology, encouraged the dairy sector and milk production, gave voting rights to 18-year-olds, and created the IT revolution,” he pointed out.

HYDRA to clear encroached lands

Regarding the demolition of illegal constructions, Bhatti reiterated that all encroachments of lands and tanks by some individuals would be cleared by HYDRA as a gift to the people of Telangana.

Commenting on the Dharani software, he said it would be discarded, as it was introduced by the previous rulers with a vested interest to solely benefit the rich.

Lashing out at the BRS leaders, Bhatti said there was no comparison between the previous government, which took 10 years to waive Rs 1 lakh in loans for farmers, and the Congress government, which waived Rs 2 lakh in loans for farmers in one go.

With inputs from NSS

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Hyderabad: The Union government has informed the Telangana High Court that it lacks information regarding the alleged phone tapping of various political leaders and judges during the tenure of the BRS government.

The government clarified that the state administration did not seek its guidance or permission concerning this matter.

Additionally, the Union Home Ministry stated that the secretary responsible for the state’s home department holds the authority to authorize the interception of any subscriber’s communications within the state, without needing approval from the central government for lawful interception.

The ministry also emphasized that any intercepted records must be destroyed by the relevant competent authority and authorized security and law enforcement agencies every six months, as mandated by Sub-rule 419A (18) of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951 unless those records are required for functional purposes in the future.

Undersecretary of the Union Home Ministry, Nutan Kumari, submitted a counter to the High Court in response to a suo-motu writ petition initiated based on a Deccan Chronicle article titled “HC judge’s mobile tapped: Ex-ASP.”

Following the court’s orders, the ministry provided a comprehensive counter, stating that service providers are responsible for the actions of their employees under the Indian Telegraph Act. If violations such as unauthorized interception occur, service providers could face penalties, including the suspension or revocation of their licenses, as specified in Sections 20, 20-A, 23, and 24 of the Act.

The counter affidavit also mentioned the Telecommunication Act, of 2023, which includes provisions for lawful interception under Section 20(2)(a).

However, the rules related to this section are still being drafted. Until these rules are finalized, the existing provisions of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951, remain in effect, according to Section 61 of the Telecommunication Act, 2023, which was enacted on June 21, 2024.

Additionally, the affidavit highlighted that unauthorized access or interception of telecommunications could lead to severe penalties under Section 42(2) of the Telecommunication Act, including imprisonment for up to three years and fines of up to Rs 2 crore, or both.

By presenting these arguments, the under-secretary left it to the court to determine the appropriate actions regarding the alleged phone tapping incident.

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Hyderabad: A man from Hyderabad who was lured into cybercrime on the pretext of jobs in Cambodia has broken free from the trap and returned home.

The victim was identified as 29-year-old Gulam Moinuddin a resident of Kurmaguda, Madannapet, who sought refuge at the Indian Embassy in Phnom Penh after fleeing from a Chinese-run call centre involved in scamming Indians.

On his return, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau registered a fresh case of trafficking based on his statements. Gulam, a graduate of Kakatiya University, Warangal, had initially worked as a waiter at Swagath Grand Hotel, Habsiguda. Struggling with his family’s financial debts, he decided to seek better job opportunities abroad.

A friend working in Malaysia connected him with an agent, Gottapu Srinivasa Rao, who promised him a job overseas. “I contacted Srinivas, who advised me to go to Cambodia instead of Europe, saying it was a lengthy process. He asked for my original passport and arranged my visa and flight tickets,” Gulam said.

After transferring Rs 50,000 to the agent, Gulam was told he had secured a call centre job in Cambodia. He travelled to Chennai, where he met another intermediary, Kartik, who demanded an additional Rs 65,000 in cash. After securing a visa, Gulam left for Cambodia on Jan 20, 2024. On arrival in Cambodia, Gulam was picked up by one Salam, who took his passport and drove him 500 kilometres to Poi Pet City near the Thailand border.

“The cab driver dropped me at a guest house, where I met a Chinese agent. I was taken to a company for an interview and was told my salary would be $800. However, I soon realised that the company was involved in scamming Indians through call centres,” Gulam added.

The victim was forced to read a script prepared by the Chinese handlers and scam Indians, when he refused to do so the handlers threatened Gulam asking him to pay double the amount he had initially paid.

He was kept idle for 20 days before being moved to another company, where he was made to make scam calls to Indians.

According to a report by the TOI, The victim sought permission from his handlers to buy essentials; he reached a lodge near the Indian embassy he approached the Indian Embassy, where he met an officer and explained his situation.

Indian ambassador to Cambodia, Devyani Uttam Khobragade, assisted Gulam in obtaining a new passport and ensured his safe return to India on Aug 7.

Upon reaching Hyderabad, Gulam filed a complaint with the Telangana police who registered a case of wrongful confinement and launched an investigation.

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Hyderabad: Heavy rains yesterday turned many areas and roads in Hyderabad into lakes, leading to a flood-like situation in the city.

The rains inundated low-lying areas and disrupted normal life. The weather conditions in the city and other districts of Telangana have also claimed the lives of at least seven people.

Rains claim life in Hyderabad

In Hyderabad, a person was washed away in floodwaters early Tuesday due to heavy rains. His body was found in the Parsigutta area of the Musheerabad constituency. He was identified as Vijay, 43 years old.

Of the seven people who died due to the rains, six were killed by lightning strikes in various districts of Telangana.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the sluice gates of Hussain Sagar were raised to manage the rising water, allowing it to flow through the vents.

Water enters houses in low-lying areas

Due to the heavy rains in Hyderabad, water overflowing from open drains and manholes entered houses in low-lying areas, causing severe hardships for the residents.

GHMC and DRF personnel were seen trying to pump out water from inundated areas.

DRF personnel, along with traffic police, were also clearing waterlogged roads.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Hyderabad has issued a yellow alert for Hyderabad and its surrounding areas for the next two days.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers, accompanied by gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, are likely to occur in the city, the Met Office said.

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