Kaleshwaram Project: Telangana Govt Orders CBI Probe, KCR’s Daughter Blames Harish Rao For ‘Stain’

Last Updated:September 01, 2025, 18:28 IST

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy orders CBI probe into Kaleshwaram project irregularities, implicating K Chandrasekhar Rao and BRS leaders.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. (Congress/X)

Kaleshwaram Project Row: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has announced a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project built during the previous K Chandrasekhar Rao’s regime.

After a speech lasting over one-and-a-half hours past midnight during the short discussion on Justice P C Ghose Commission probe report on irregularities in the over Rs one lakh crore Kaleshwaram project, which was tabled in the state assembly on Sunday

While speaking at the end of the short discussion on the judicial commission’s report on Kaleshwaram project in the assembly, which concluded at around 2 am, the Chief Minister said it is appropriate to hand over the probe to CBI as inter-state issues, different central and state government departments and agencies are involved in the project.

“Therefore, the House is taking the decision to hand over the investigation of this case to the CBI with the permission of the Speaker. Because there are many issues involved in this and also matters fit for inquiry, our government is issuing orders for CBI probe," he said as quoted by news agency PTI.

“The Ghose commission report has nailed former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, former ministers T Harish Rao and Eatala Rajender, and also many officers, officials, contractors and engineers," he added.

The government had constituted Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose Commission to investigate into the alleged irregularities, misuse of public funds, and corruption in the construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages in the Kaleshwaram project.

The Ghose Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the government on July 31, 2025. The state cabinet approved it on August 4, 2025. It also took the decision to table the report in the assembly, which was discussed in detail, and the discussions extended from Sunday to the early hours of Monday.

The reports of Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the judicial commission have underscored the need for an in-depth and more comprehensive probe into various issues concerning the project.

What Judicial Report States?

The Ghose Commission in its report has identified several irregularities, including negligence, deliberate suppression of facts, and financial irregularities, Reddy said.

The Commission concluded that faults took place in the construction of the three barrages.

As per the NDSA report, the defects in planning, design and quality control have been found to be the reasons for the failure of the Medigadda barrage of the Kaleshwaram project, the CM said.

The Commission suggested that it is for the state government to take action against former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as per the law.

"While the then Minister for Irrigation gave instructions at random and the Minister for Finance & Planning conducted himself apathetically towards the finance and economic health of the State, it is the then Chief Minister who can be directly and also vicariously made accountable for the irregularities and illegalities in planning, construction, completion, operation and maintenance of the three barrages," the commission report said.

BRS’ Response

Meanwhile, the BRS staged a walkout from the assembly, alleging that the party was not given enough time to voice its version on the report of the judicial commission.

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao said, “Today the government failed completely. Today, their ministers objected and interrupted, but Harish Rao Ji replied to everything. Whatever allegation was made against us, he gave a befitting reply. We will also fight legally and politically. As a party, we will sit and decide how to break this conspiracy…"

Further, hours after the Chief Minister’s decision, the counsels for the party leaders approached the court seeking interim relief.

Meanwhile, former Minister and senior BRS MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy accused the Chief Minister of colluding with the BJP to defame the Kaleshwaram project and malign the BRS leadership. He said the Congress-BJP nexus was exposed during Assembly proceedings as part of a larger conspiracy to shut down the Kaleshwaram project permanently.

KCR’s Daughter Kavitha Blames Harish Rao For Corruption Stain

Further, BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha once again took indirect swipes at party working president KT Rama Rao and claimed that former minister Harish Rao, ex-Rajya Sabha MP Santosh Rao, and MEIL (Megha Engineering and Infrastructure) chief Krishna Reddy were responsible for tarnishing her father and BRS president KCR’s image with corruption charges.

“It was people close to KCR who brought this taint — Harish Rao, Santosh, and Megha Krishna Reddy. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is backing them and protecting their actions. The ACB has already found hundreds of crores from officials linked to the Kaleshwaram project."

She further claimed that KCR himself was aware of Harish Rao’s alleged irregularities, which is why he was not given the irrigation portfolio in the second term.

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is a multi-purpose project on the Godavari River in Bhupalpally district. Damage to the barrages, built during the previous BRS regime, became a major issue in the 2023 Assembly election.

(With inputs from agencies)

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