Senior IPS officer and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency Commissioner A V Ranganath has strongly denied social media reports suggesting that he may soon enter politics.
Speaking in an interview with a YouTube channel, Ranganath said he had no intention of resigning from government service or contesting elections.
Reacting to speculation that he might join the Jana Sena Party, led by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, the HYDRAA chief said he had no plans to enter politics or join any political party.
“I have seen reports claiming that I will resign from service and join Jana Sena. Some posts even suggest that I may contest as an MLA or MP or become the party’s Telangana in-charge. All these reports are baseless,” he said.
The senior IPS officer said he had known actor Chiranjeevi and his family for nearly two decades and shared cordial relations with Pawan Kalyan. However, he categorically denied having any political ambitions.
“I am being linked to different political parties and even assigned constituencies on social media. My responsibility is to discharge my official duties. Politics is not even on my mind,” he said.
Ranganath also addressed the controversy surrounding Pawan Kalyan’s land near Kodi Cheruvu. He said Pawan Kalyan had purchased the property from four farmers in 2014 as private patta land.
He maintained that Pawan Kalyan had neither encroached upon the lake nor altered its physical boundaries. According to Ranganath, the only issue was the fencing erected around the property, to which HYDRAA had raised objections.
“Apart from the fencing issue, he did not occupy the lake or alter its nature,” Ranganath explained.
Ranganath’s comments come amid strong observations made by the Telangana High Court in contempt proceedings involving HYDRAA. The court criticised the agency over alleged violations of judicial directions in disputed land matters.
The High Court subsequently directed the State Chief Secretary to remove Ranganath from the post of HYDRAA Commissioner and appoint a suitable replacement.
Reports said the court referred to the large number of contempt cases pending against him while issuing the direction.
The Telangana government reportedly decided to challenge the order through appropriate legal proceedings.
