Lakshmi Srinivasa Constructions owner arrested at RGIA for land grabbing while fleeing

Hyderabad: Vijaya Lakshmi, the owner of Lakshmi Srinivasa Constructions, was arrested by Dundigal police on Thursday, January 30, 2025, after she was allegedly attempting to flee the country. She was apprehended at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, where she was attempting to board a flight to the United States.

Lakshmi faces multiple charges related to land grabbing, with several cases already filed against her. The arrest followed a crackdown by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA), which had previously demolished several villas built by her company in an unauthorized layout in Mallampet.

Authorities had been investigating Lakshmi for her involvement in illegal construction. According to reports, her firm built villas on land encroaching upon protected lake areas, violating construction regulations. Earlier complaints from the public led to the sealing of over 100 villas in September 2021 due to the lack of necessary construction permits and violations of environmental regulations.

Lakshmi’s troubles deepened when the Municipal Commissioner of Dundigal filed a formal complaint against her company for constructing around 260 buildings without the proper permissions. The firm allegedly misrepresented facts to local authorities to obtain approval for the development.

In response to the charges, Lakshmi took the matter to court in 2022, seeking to quash the FIR against her. The High Court ordered that the investigation continue but ruled that she could not be arrested at that time. Despite the court's directive, the investigation has progressed, leading to her recent arrest.

The conflict centers on villas constructed on land in Survey Nos. 170/3, 170/4, and 170/5 in Mallampet village, Dundigal municipality. The firm claimed that the land in question was not part of the buffer zone of Katwa Cheruvu, a protected lake area. However, a joint inspection report by revenue, irrigation, and municipal authorities found that some of the villas were indeed built within the buffer zone, prompting demolition notices.

Further complicating the situation, Lakshmi’s firm failed to complete construction within the stipulated two-year timeframe, which expired in July 2020. The company cited COVID-19-related delays for not finishing the work on time.

HYDRAA’s official statement from September 2024 confirmed the demolition of seven villas in Mallampet and stated that these villas were still under construction at the time of demolition and did not have proper permissions.

Following her today’s arrest, Vijaya Lakshmi was taken into police custody for questioning. Police have also arranged for her medical tests before presenting her in court for remand. Meanwhile, numerous victims of her alleged illegal constructions have gathered at the Dundigal police station seeking justice.