Hyderabad, September 4, 2024 — The Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA), AV Ranganath, issued a stern warning on Wednesday, declaring that strict legal action, including potential jail time, will be taken against anyone involved in extortion by impersonating HYDRAA officials.Commissioner Ranganath revealed that certain individuals are falsely posing as social activists and blackmailing builders by claiming their constructions violate regulations, such as being within Full Tank Level (FTL) or buffer zones of lakes. These impersonators allege close connections with senior HYDRAA officials and threaten to lodge complaints unless their monetary demands are met.”This extortion tactic is being directed not only at builders but also at residents of high-rise structures. These fraudsters promise to prevent any enforcement actions by HYDRAA in exchange for money,” Ranganath stated.He strongly urged the public, including builders, companies, and homeowners, not to succumb to such illegal demands and advised them to report any attempts of extortion to the police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), or directly to HYDRAA. He assured that anyone found guilty of such fraudulent activities would face severe legal consequences.In his statement, Ranganath also called on citizens to remain vigilant and not be misled by those falsely claiming they can influence HYDRAA’s operations. “HYDRAA’s operations are governed strictly by law, and no individual has the power to alter enforcement actions,” he emphasized.The Commissioner’s warning comes as a precautionary measure to safeguard the public from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes and to ensure that HYDRAA’s regulatory integrity remains intact.