Serious allegations are emerging about large-scale corruption in the posting of key positions such as Revenue Divisional Officers (RDOs) and District Revenue Officers (DROs) in the Andhra Pradesh Revenue Department. The issue has now turned into a major controversy, especially after members of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) themselves shared detailed posts on social media accusing a minister of collecting huge sums of money in this entire process. According to departmental sources, a file related to the transfer of around 20 RDOs and eight DROs has already reached Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. It is being alleged that many of the officials included in this list are facing serious corruption charges. What has shocked many officials is the role of a prominent industrialist associated with a mega project between Nellore and Chittoor districts. Reportedly, this industrialist proposed the name of an RDO, which was then forwarded to the Chief Minister for approval.
This has triggered intense discussions within bureaucratic circles. While industrialists influencing government decisions is not new, their alleged involvement in deciding official postings—reportedly with the approval of a district collector and even an officer in the Chief Minister’s Office—has left many stunned. Sources within the Revenue Department claim that several officers vying for transfers have paid large sums to a minister to secure favorable postings. What is more concerning is that some individuals on the list were previously caught with cash during surprise inspections by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Despite this, preparations are allegedly underway to appoint such individuals to key positions, effectively making corruption a qualification.
A TDP activist even posted on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that revenue postings are being auctioned in the open market, tagging top government officials in the post. It is also being alleged that for the Nandigama RDO post, a candidate facing serious corruption allegations was recommended, and some public representatives reportedly received ₹10 lakh each merely for issuing recommendation letters—claims coming from within TDP circles themselves. Similarly, for the Visakhapatnam RDO post, a woman officer known for alleged corruption has reportedly been recommended.
Officials say that a highly influential person within the government played a key role in pushing her name. There is also talk within official circles that this individual has now placed special focus on Visakhapatnam. Furthermore, sources allege that for files involving transactions worth crores of rupees to move forward, private intermediaries are being used. Key revenue files are said to proceed only after receiving a “green signal” from these intermediaries. This entire system reportedly revolves around land deals worth hundreds of crores, with multiple stakeholders working in a coordinated and systematic manner.