Nalgonda probe finds 3,069 fake pattadar passbooks issued
HYDERABAD: An inquiry in Tirumalagiri Sagar mandal of Nalgonda district has uncovered large-scale irregularities in the issuance of pattadar passbooks, with 3,069 people illegally recorded as landowners.
Revenue records show that they granted ownership rights over 2,936 acres of land that did not belong to them. The passbooks, issued in 2019, came under scrutiny after a government survey revealed fraudulent entries.
Fake names inserted in records
Officials reported that individuals wrongly registered vast tracts of forest and government land in villages such as Chintalapalem, Nellikal, and Thimmaipalem. In several cases, the new names did not appear in the 1B (mother records). Revenue staff allegedly utilized the land record modernization drive (SRUP/ESRUP) to insert entries, later uploading them on the Dharani portal. Once registered, officials issued pattadar passbooks, and beneficiaries gained farmer status.
Investigators believe that individuals started the fraud before 2019 but made it profitable after the introduction of schemes like Raithu Bandhu, which provides ₹10,000 per acre, and the Centre’s support of ₹6,000 per acre. Since then, those with illegal pattas reportedly received crores of rupees in benefits.
Revenue staff under lens
Officials issued pattas without link documents or lawful government assignment. The process ignored basic checks such as pahani and 1B records, pointing to collusion at the mandal level. Authorities fear that some beneficiaries may have mortgaged the land or raised bank loans, as Dharani entries enabled transactions without physical verification. They are considering a full audit of mortgages and sales.
Government action
The present government has suspended Raitha Bharosa payments linked to these entries and initiated cancellation of the illegal pattas. A deeper probe into how Dharani entries were authorised is expected, along with verification of possible financial transactions based on the fraudulent records.
