Charu Sinha Appointed to Lead Investigation into Dharani Portal Irregularities

New Delhi, India Jul 25, 2026 ALN: Hyderabad: Senior IPS officer Charu Sinha has been appointed to lead the Special Enquiry Team (SET) established by the Telangana state government to investigate alleged irregularities associated with the Dharani land records portal. This inquiry comes in the wake of claims regarding mismanagement and corruption during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) administration.

The Dharani portal, launched on October 29, 2020, was intended to streamline land records management in Telangana, providing a digital interface for land registration and related services. However, over the past few months, concerns have emerged about the integrity of this system, prompting the current government to take action. The SET is expected to be formally constituted soon, as official sources indicate that the government will issue orders detailing the roles of the chairperson and the team members.

In addition to Charu Sinha, the SET will include several high-ranking officials, such as the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). The team will also comprise superintendents of police, including Sindhu Sharma, who specializes in counter-intelligence, and Harshavardhan, who focuses on cyber security. Furthermore, the SET will integrate expertise from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), with members like Anudeep Durishetty, joint secretary of IT, and Apurva Chauhan, project director for land administration.

A technical expert from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) will also be included to provide specialized knowledge regarding the portal's technological framework. The SET will undertake a comprehensive examination of the procedural lapses that may have occurred during the tendering process managed by Telangana Technology Services, responsible for developing the Dharani portal. This investigation will scrutinize the bidding process, evaluation criteria, contract awards, and the overall design and development of the portal, ensuring that all actions taken were compliant with legal requirements.

One of the critical aspects of the investigation will involve allegations concerning the financial stability of the agency selected to manage the portal. Claims of insolvency and questions regarding the agency’s investments, as well as its registration with regulatory bodies such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), will be thoroughly investigated. These concerns are particularly pertinent given that the integrity of land records is vital for maintaining public trust and ensuring fair land transactions.

The SET will also delve into accusations of unauthorized transactions and security breaches that may have compromised sensitive land ownership records. This includes examining deficiencies within the payment gateway that processes transaction fees, as well as assessing whether all required fees were duly deposited with the government. Allegations have surfaced regarding transactions conducted outside the official Dharani system, particularly after working hours, raising questions about the auditing processes and the authenticity of log-ins used during these transactions.

The scope of the investigation will encompass all transactions that occurred from the launch of the Dharani portal until the transition of power to the Congress government in December 2023. Special attention will be dedicated to transactions involving assigned lands and government properties. Reports indicate that there have been significant irregularities in the transfer of assigned lands, particularly those belonging to economically disadvantaged beneficiaries, as well as vacant government lands that have been removed from the Section 22-A prohibited list and subsequently transferred to private individuals.

Particular focus will be placed on the Rangareddy and Medchal districts, where officials have reportedly uncovered extensive transfers of government land. In the Medchal-Malkajgiri area, allegations have surfaced regarding real estate developers acquiring ceiling and assigned lands, as well as large corporations manipulating records to gain control over properties listed under Section 22-A. This manipulation of land records raises serious concerns about the potential exploitation of vulnerable populations and the integrity of land ownership in the state.

The SET will also investigate claims of misuse of digital keys belonging to senior officials, which may have facilitated unauthorized alterations to land records. This includes the issuance of fake pattadar passbooks and government orders, fraudulent title certificates, and the illegal de-notification of government lands before they were officially recorded in the digital system. Such actions, if proven true, would indicate a severe breach of trust and governance standards.

In response to the growing concerns surrounding the Dharani portal, the Congress government has already initiated measures to shift operations from a private agency to the NIC, rebranding the platform as Bhu Bharati. This transition aims to enhance transparency and accountability in land management, alongside preliminary investigations conducted by forensic and expert committees to assess the portal's integrity.

The SET has been empowered to collaborate with forensic and technical agencies, as well as domain experts, to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. Government departments have been instructed to provide necessary assistance to the SET, which will be tasked with submitting interim reports and recommending measures to bolster the security of the Dharani portal.

Based on the findings of the investigation, the SET is expected to recommend criminal proceedings and legal action against any officials, private individuals, or entities found culpable of the alleged irregularities. The implications of this investigation are significant, as it seeks to restore public confidence in the state's land management systems and ensure that those responsible for any malfeasance are held accountable. As the inquiry progresses, it will be crucial for the government to maintain transparency and communicate its findings to the public to reinforce trust in its commitment to good governance and ethical administration.