Appear in person or face non-bailable warrant, Telangana HC warns Hydraa chief

The Telangana High Court on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the conduct of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (Hydraa) Commissioner AV Ranganath in the ongoing Bathukamma Kunta dispute, cautioning that a non-bailable warrant would be issued if he fails to appear in person by December 5.

A Division Bench of Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice BR Madhusudhan Rao was hearing a contempt case filed by A Sudhakar Reddy. The petitioner alleged that Hydraa carried out substantial alterations on the disputed land in violation of the court’s earlier orders. On the previous date, the court had recorded that photographs from June 13 to October 5, 2025



prima facie showed major modifications on the land despite subsisting directions that Hydraa must not encroach upon the petitioner’s interest. The Bench had ordered issuance of Form-I notice to the Commissioner after observing that there was sufficient material indicating substantial changes to the property.

When the matter was taken up on Thursday, Commissioner Ranganath filed an absent petition. The court refused to accept the explanation and made it clear that his personal presence was mandatory. The Bench warned that failure to appear before the court on December 5 would result in a non-bailable warrant. The contempt case will be taken up next on December 5.