Bhoodan land: ED searches accused’s properties in Hyd

Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted searches at five locations in Hyderabad in connection with a case related to about 50 acres of Bhoodan land in Maheshwaram being illegally sold by manipulating revenue records. Among those whose properties were searched were Mohammed Munawar Khan, Khaderunnisa, and others.
ED sleuths have so far found 45 high-end cars, including condemned vehicles, vintage vehicles, BMWs, and Mercedes-Benz during searches at Munawar's farmhouse. Sources said that officials asked Munawar to give them documents for the vehicles, which he had failed to provide till Monday evening. ED will seize the vehicles if the documents are not submitted. Officials also seized around 25 lakh in cash and unaccounted foreign currency.

Searches were conducted at five locations, including Yakutpura, Santoshnagar, and other areas and included properties of the associates of the accused, like Mohammed Abdul Shukoor, Sharfan, Mohammed Abdul Javeed, Mohammed Abdul Lateef, Mohammed Abdul Ibrahim, and Mohammed Abdul Akthar. Officials said Munawar is Khaderunnisa's son. Shukoor too is related to the family.
The case pertains to 100 acres of land in Maheshwaram, where 50 acres is Bhoodan land. The Bhoodan board is reclaiming it from the firm EIPL. The other 50 acres is non-Bhoodan land. The ED investigation began in Oct 2024. Among those who were questioned was then collector D Amoy Kumar.
Kumar, currently serving in the animal husbandry department, was earlier Rangareddy collector. While Kumar is not an accused in the case, his role is being scrutinised, particularly over use of the Dharani portal and registration of properties in the prohibitory categories.
The investigation stems from an FIR filed by Maheshwaram police last year, based on a complaint submitted by Dastagir Shareef, a resident of Mehdipatnam. He alleged fraudulent registration and mutation of disputed property despite the land being notified under the prohibitory list.
Besides Khaderunnisa, and Munawar, the FIR names RP Jyothi who was MRO and joint sub-registrar of Maheshwaram. The complainant alleged that the accused, in conspiracy with officers, manipulated revenue records and issued illegal passbooks and sale deeds for 42 acres and 33 guntas of land in Nagaram village. ED is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case.