Special Correspondent
Serious concerns over the security of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy have been raised by senior BJP leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy, who has formally written to the state Director-General of Police and marked a copy to the Union Home Ministry, flagging what he describes as alarming security lapses.
At the centre of the controversy is Akram Ali Mohammed, also known as Abu Aimal (Azad Reporter), who, according to court records cited by Shashidhar Reddy, had his passport revoked by the Regional Passport Authority, Hyderabad, based on confidential inputs from the Intelligence Department.
The revocation was challenged before the High Court of Telangana through Writ Petition No. 3114 of 2020. However, the court dismissed the petition, effectively upholding the authorities’ decision. The passport was reportedly cancelled under provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, citing concerns that his activities were prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
In his letter, Shashidhar Reddy stated that criminal cases had allegedly been registered against Abu Aimal under various sections of the IPC, the Arms Act, and the Foreigners Act, 1946. These, he claimed, included allegations relating to possession of arms and explosive substances, along with suspected links to elements considered inimical to national interests. He further noted that intelligence authorities were believed to have maintained surveillance records in view of what was described as a potential threat perception.
Against this backdrop, the BJP leader questioned how Abu Aimal was reportedly being seen in the Chief Minister’s official entourage, including participation in convoys and high-level meetings. His continued access to the state’s highest executive office, Shashidhar Reddy argued, raises serious questions about background verification mechanisms and adherence to established security protocols.
Adding another dimension to the issue, Shashidhar Reddy pointed to the reported proximity between Abu Aimal and Faheem Qureshi, who is said to have introduced him to Revanth Reddy during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Malkajgiri, when efforts were underway to consolidate minority support.
There are also reports of cases registered against Faheem Qureshi. While no formal linkage has been established in the public domain between the two in the context of the earlier intelligence concerns, their long-standing association has attracted scrutiny.
Political and administrative circles in Hyderabad suggest that Faheem Qureshi is perceived to wield considerable informal influence within the Chief Minister’s Office and in certain departments, particularly Minority Welfare. Some media reports have even claimed that officials seek his intervention in administrative matters, including postings — claims that have not been officially confirmed.
Shashidhar Reddy further alleged that Faheem Qureshi had accompanied the Chief Minister to major national events, including conferences held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, besides various state-level programmes and high-profile public events in Hyderabad. Such visible proximity, he argued, amplifies concerns in light of the earlier intelligence flags against Abu Aimal.
Further controversy, he noted, arose when the Minority Welfare Department instituted a “Lifetime Achievement Award in Digital Media,” which was presented to Abu Aimal on November 25, 2025 — coinciding with the listing of his case for final hearing before the High Court.
Critics, Shashidhar Reddy said, have questioned whether the timing of the award was intended to refurbish his public image at a sensitive legal juncture. Government sources, however, have not issued any formal clarification linking the award to the legal proceedings.
In his communication to the DGP and the Union Home Ministry, Shashidhar Reddy called for a comprehensive review of security protocols, fresh verification of antecedents of individuals with access to the Chief Minister, and a reassessment of threat perception parameters.
Security experts note that even the perception of vulnerability within the Chief Minister’s immediate circle can have broader implications for internal security and administrative credibility.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office addressing the concerns raised by the BJP leader.
With political temperatures already rising in the state, the issue is expected to generate further debate in the coming days, particularly over questions of institutional oversight and the robustness of security vetting procedures surrounding constitutional functionaries.
