Ghose Report: KCR, Harish 'Aware' of Inquiry Scope
The technical objections raised by the two BRS leaders appear to have been addressed by the commission
Hyderabad: The Justice P.C. Ghose commission of inquiry report into the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme’s (KLIS) barrages, tabled in the Assembly on Sunday, has made it clear that former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, and former irrigation minister T. Harish Rao were “fully aware” what the inquiry was all about.
This aspect in the report raises questions on Chandrashekar Rao and Harish Rao’s objections in their petitions in the High Court on the validity of the commission itself, and the way it conducted its proceedings. They have sought that the orders setting up the commission be quashed, thus making infructuous the report prepared by Justice Ghose.
The technical objections raised by the two BRS leaders appear to have been addressed by the commission, at least partly, in its report, with Justice Ghose including excerpts from the notices issued to them for appearing before the commission, as well as to the then finance minister Etala Rajendar, now a BJP member of the Lok Sabha.
Justice Ghose in the report said: “The evidence of the then Minister for Irrigation, the then Minister for Finance & Planning and the then Chief Minister also makes one fact clear that they have deposed before this Commission being fully aware of the scope of inquiry before this Commission and also deposed having the knowledge of the manner of planning, construction and completion of these three barrages.”
The commission in its report, also noted that Chandrashekar Rao, Harish Rao, as well as Rajendar, were informed clearly that the government had set up the commission under the powers conferred upon it by “Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952…..” It further said the notices also included a copy of the GO Ms. No. 6 Irrigation and CAD (Projects-IV), dated 14th March, 2024, to conduct Judicial Inquiry on certain allegations of irregularities and embezzlement of public funds by corrupt practices in constructing the barrages of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla of Kaleshwaram Project and the Terms of Reference.”
The commission, in these notices, said since they held the positions of the then Chief Minister, irrigation minister and finance minister of Telangana “during the relevant period of planning, awarding of contracts, designing, construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages,” it was “of the opinion to examine and hear you upon the Terms of Reference before this Commission…. You are at liberty to produce documents/records upon which you desire to rely upon and/or to place before this Commission for consideration.”