Tahsildars come under scrutiny for corruption

Karimnagar: Corruption allegations have rocked the administrative landscape of Karimnagar district, with several tahsildars implicated in various misconducts involving land disputes and record discrepancies, turning these issues into profitable avenues for personal gain.

Instances have surfaced where tahsildars deliberately stalled registrations and withheld pass books, despite correct documentation, only to later demand illicit payments to expedite the processing of files.

Former Kothapalli tahsildar Billa Srinivas was jailed in the case of occupying land with fake documents, while Veenavanka tahsildar was suspended for completing the land registration process without the presence of a pattadar, who was in America.

The recent raid by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at the residence of Jammikunta tahsildar Rajini unveiled substantial property documents, sparking apprehension among other tahsildars facing mounting corruption accusations and legal repercussions.

There are allegations that if people come to these offices with land problems, tahsildars are demanding a huge amount to solve the problem. In one case, Chilla Srinivas, while serving as Kothapalli tahsildar, demanded 3.250 guntas of land (10 percent) in his name for online registration of 30 guntas of land belonging to a man named Raghu in Raykurthi. As Raghu did not agree to this, tahsildar Srinivas created fake documents and mutated 3.250 guntas of land in the name of his benami Santosh.

Furthermore, the case involving Ramidi Shivapriya, a resident of the United States, who allegedly transferred valuable land using falsified documents, underscores the lax oversight and negligence within the registration process, leading to the suspension of tahsildar Tirumal Rao. Jammikunta tahsildar Rajini’s history of corruption accusations, including alleged involvement in a revenue employee’s tragic suicide due to workplace harassment, and amassing significant wealth during her tenure, raises serious concerns about accountability and ethical conduct within the administrative apparatus.

The introduction of the Dharani portal aimed to streamline land registration processes; however, reports suggest continued exploitation, with tahsildars levying unauthorised fees ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 for each registration, particularly in areas witnessing real estate activities.

Speaking to The Hans India, Snehalatha NGO stressed on the urgent need for stringent legal actions against corrupt officials to uphold integrity and restore public trust in governance.