Officials move to arrest accused; Deputy CM demands recovery of damages
VIJAYAWADA — Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Pawan Kalyan has directed strict legal action after a newly constructed rural road in Pullampeta mandal of Tirupati district was allegedly destroyed within a week of completion. The damaged stretch connects the villages of Ananthasamudram and Papakkagaripalle and was built under the state government’s Palle Panduga 3.0 initiative.
Officials reported that a 100-metre section of the road was intentionally ploughed up using a tractor. The department identified the accused as a YSRCP leader named Subba Reddy, who allegedly acted with the assistance of another person, Venkata Subba Reddy. Local villagers provided information that led to an immediate FIR, the officials said.
“Cases under non-bailable sections must be registered against those who destroyed the road. Strict action must be taken not only against the perpetrators on the ground but also against the political handlers behind them.”
Reviewing the matter with senior engineering officials of the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department on Monday, the Deputy Chief Minister directed registration of offences under non-bailable sections and asked that the Revenue Recovery (RR) Act be invoked to recover the cost of the damage. Officials assured that the accused would be arrested and produced before a magistrate by the evening, the official account said.
Details of the work and the damage
Officials said the road had been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹4.75 crore and was completed barely a week before the incident. Authorities described the deliberate destruction of public infrastructure built with taxpayers’ money as a serious offence and stressed the need to identify all persons involved.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length damaged | 100 metres |
| Estimated cost of road | ₹4.75 crore |
| Location | Between Ananthasamudram and Papakkagaripalle, Pullampeta mandal, Tirupati district |
| Programme | Palle Panduga 3.0 |
Legal and administrative consequences
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised action against both the individuals who carried out the destruction and any political handlers believed to have instigated the act. Officials said the FIR was lodged after villagers reported the incident. They indicated that police are moving to arrest the named accused and will present them before a magistrate.
Invocation of the Revenue Recovery Act would enable the government to recover the monetary loss from those found responsible. The departmental review also focused on documenting the damage and preparing the requisite administrative and legal records to support recovery and prosecution.
- Police registered an FIR following local complaints.
- Deputy CM has ordered cases under non-bailable sections where applicable.
- Officials to invoke Revenue Recovery Act to recoup damages.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of recent rural infrastructure projects under Palle Panduga 3.0 in Tirupati district. Administrators and law-enforcement agencies face the twin tasks of making the accused answerable in court and ensuring that public assets remain protected from politically motivated or other deliberate acts of damage.
As the investigation proceeds, departmental engineers and police will be expected to corroborate the account of deliberate destruction, quantify repair costs precisely, and identify any wider conspiracy or involvement beyond the two named individuals, officials said.
The legal steps ordered by the Deputy Chief Minister reflect a wider administrative stance that public infrastructure must be safeguarded, and that deliberate damage will attract criminal prosecution and financial recovery measures under existing laws.
