Hyderabad, Feb. 4 -- The Telangana Forest Department is fighting tooth and nail to protect its properties from land grabbers in the city and suburbs who are eyeing vast forest lands for real estate activity, especially the Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park at Vanasthalipuram.

The national park spread over around 3600 acres of forest land under the Mansoorabad Forest division of Ranga Reddy district is the finest example.

The Vanasthalipuram police had last week arrested three people for allegedly duping prospective buyers with fake land deals inside the Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park.

The group of fraudsters duped the buyers by selling 582 acres of protected forest land and portions of landfill. On learning of the scam, ...