Sat Feb 01 06:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Eenadu Exposé Forces Andhra Pradesh Government to Investigate Former Minister’s Land Grab

**Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh –** The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an investigation into allegations of illegal land grabbing by former minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, following a major exposé by the Telugu daily Eenadu. The newspaper’s front-page article, titled “అడవిలో అక్రమ సామ్రాజ్యం” (Illegal Empire in the Forest), detailed how Reddy allegedly usurped forest land to construct a farmhouse and other buildings, further accusing him of misappropriating Market Committee funds to build a road leading to the property.

The swift government response, including the immediate formation of a joint committee comprising the Chittoor District Collector, SP, and Anantapur Forest Conservators, suggests Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is taking the allegations seriously. However, the timing of the investigation has raised concerns.

Critics question why the government, seven months into its term, was seemingly unaware of the alleged irregularities until Eenadu’s report. The article highlights a broader issue of accountability, suggesting a possible lack of oversight within the government machinery. This is further exemplified by a recent incident where a limestone mine lease granted to a relative of the Chief Minister was swiftly cancelled only after protests by TDP activists.

These events, according to commentators, paint a picture of a system where government officials are unresponsive, leaving the burden of uncovering corruption to the media. This raises serious questions about the government’s effectiveness and the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s administrative apparatus. Unless immediate and decisive action is taken, critics warn that the current system risks being overwhelmed by corruption.

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