Hyderabad: Smita Sabharwal, a senior bureaucrat and the state’s Tourism Secretary, has once again demonstrated her unwavering commitment to transparency, this time over the Kancha Gachibowli land issue. Known for her outspokenness, she believed in calling spade a spade. She values transparency and isn’t afraid to voice her concerns, even if it means challenging the status quo.
Sabharwal, who served as a key official in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) during K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s tenure, has always been at the forefront of decision-making. Her reputation for calling out discrepancies and advocating for fairness has made her a respected figure in the state’s administrative circles.
The controversy began on March 31, when Sabharwal retweeted what was called an AI-generated image shared by the Twitter handle “Hi Hyderabad.” The image depicted the iconic Mushroom Rock surrounded by bulldozers and wildlife, accompanied by a plea to protect Hyderabad’s biodiversity.
For Sabharwal, the post was a call to action for environmental preservation. However, the Telangana Police soon declared the image fake and issued notices to Sabharwal under Section BNS 179.
Despite the legal scrutiny, Sabharwal stood firm, questioning the selective targeting of her actions. “As a law-abiding citizen, I fully cooperated with the police,” she stated. “But why target only me when 2,000 others shared the same post? Does the law apply equally to all?” Her remarks highlighted concerns about freedom of expression and the impartiality of law enforcement.
Congress circles have been pointing out Sabharwal for taking a stance against the government, while her supporters commend her courage to challenge what has angered even the Supreme Court.
