The Telangana High Court on Friday, January 23, warned HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath against misusing the court’s authority. The caution came during a contempt of court case about the Bathukammakunta land dispute. A bench led by Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Gadi Praveen Kumar heard the case and adjourned it to February 6. Justice Bhattacharya told Special Government Pleader Swaroop Orilla to advise the Commissioner: “You can play to the gallery… you can play to the public… but not where the court is concerned.” The case began with a 57-year-old man, A. Sudhakar Reddy from Bagh Amberpet, who claimed rights over Bathukammakunta land. He accused the HYDRAA Commissioner of making changes by building structures despite a court order to keep the land unchanged. On Friday, the petitioner’s lawyer gave the court a pen-drive with a speech by the Commissioner at the Bathukammakunta Sankranthi festival. The lawyer said the speech violated the court’s orders. Earlier, Ranganath had apologized unconditionally for his actions. Yet, at a kite festival event at Bathukammakunta, the Commissioner said the land would be developed like other lakes. The court expressed displeasure at this despite strict instructions. The bench ordered the Commissioner to submit a counter affidavit by January 30.