Hyderabad: Hyderabad Golf Association’s (HGA’s) reportedly providing service membership to lower-rung govt officials and legislators, in contravention of rules and by-laws of the association, is the main allegation raised by a complainant in the criminal case against office-bearers of the Association. The complainant also made a few other allegations and provided evidence, demanding a forensic audit of HGA’s books.
At present, HGA has 2,500 members, including permanent members, service permanent members, associate members, service associate members, children of members (COM), and dependents. With taxes, one has to pay about 60 lakh to become an associate member, whereas to become a service member or service associate member, one has to shell out 1.1 lakh with taxes.

As per rules, officers of All India Services of Telangana cadre or officers natives of Telangana and serving in Hyderabad, officers of the Telangana govt of the rank of joint secretary and above, officers of the govt of India who are of the rank of director or above serving in Hyderabad and are natives of Telangana, and judges of the high court can become service members/service associates.
However, Srinath Reddy Kottam, the complainant and permanent member of HGA, some low-ranking govt officials and legislators had become service members in violation of HGA rules. According to sources, a BRS former minister and a police officer, under scrutiny in a phone tapping case, and two senior executives of a navaratna company with its headquarters in Hyderabad were a few in that category.
Srinath Reddy also alleged that the Golf Driving Range built prior to the pandemic was completely damaged, causing a loss of 1.3 crore. A tender for club interiors was given to a city-based firm for 9.5 crore, but the invoices were raised in another company’s name. About 2 crore was paid to a US-based firm for the construction of a new golf course, and the project never took off.
CCS police said they were looking into allegations and verifying the supporting evidence. When contacted, HGA secretary CV Ramana Reddy told TOI that a police case was registered against the office-bearers of the association, but could not provide a response since he was travelling abroad.