The Telangana High Court on Thursday dismissed a batch of writ petitions seeking to quash an Enforcement Case Information Report registered by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged Bhoodan land scam at Nagaram village in Rangareddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The petitions were filed by M A Akthar, Lateef Rahman Sharfan and Abdul Rahman Sharfan, who were named as accused by the agency. They questioned the legality of the ECIR and the ongoing proceedings initiated by the central agency, arguing that the action lacked a proper basis and was unwarranted. The petitioners also sought a direction from the court to stall all consequential proceedings against them.

A division bench comprising Justices P Sam Koshy and Justice Suddala Chalapathi Rao declined to grant the relief sought and upheld the Enforcement Directorate’s authority to continue its investigation. The bench dismissed the writ petitions, allowing the probe to proceed.

Appearing for the ED, counsel Narender Naik submitted that a preliminary inquiry had revealed several alleged irregularities and substantial financial transactions involving the petitioners. He argued that a detailed investigation was necessary and clarified that the ED’s probe was distinct from that of the local police, as it was focused specifically on the money laundering aspect of the case.

The case stems from allegations of illegal transfer and sale of Bhoodan and government land parcels situated in certain survey numbers of Nagaram village. Following the registration of an FIR by the local police, the ED initiated its own probe. The agency conducted searches at the residences of some of the accused and reportedly seized incriminating materials, including property documents. The accused were later summoned for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.