CM Revanth says Central inquiry will ensure transparency, avoid bias
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday said that the state government would formally write to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a day or two, seeking a probe into the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KLIS) during the BRS regime.
In an informal chat with mediapersons, the Chief Minister said the decision was taken to ensure impartiality in the investigation into the findings of the Justice P.C. Ghose commission of inquiry.
Revanth Reddy explained that the state government grants consent to the CBI on a case-by-case basis, and this issue warranted a Central investigation due to its scale. “We are addressing CBI, a central agency, not the BJP. If state agencies handle this matter, allegations of bias are unavoidable,” he clarified, countering suggestions that the move could be seen as shifting responsibility to the central government.
He argued that the project’s magnitude, involving multiple central agencies for permissions, funding, and execution, made it necessary to bring in a national-level investigative body. “The CBI is best placed to examine every dimension of this project and its irregularities. This will also eliminate doubts about partiality,” he said.
During the debate on the report in the Assembly on Sunday, all parties had demanded stringent action against those responsible for wasting what they described as “thousands of crores of public money without accountability.” The government maintained that a CBI inquiry would not only fix responsibility but also restore public confidence in governance.
Officials have begun the process of completing the necessary procedures under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, which requires state consent for the CBI to take up any case within its jurisdiction. The BRS government had withdrawn general consent in September 2022, limiting the CBI’s powers in Telangana. Revanth Reddy said the present government would provide specific consent for the Kaleshwaram probe, ensuring there is no legal hurdle in pursuing the investigation.
He reiterated that the move was aimed at transparency and accountability, assuring that those guilty of misusing public money would not be spared, irrespective of their position.
The Ghose Commission report, tabled in the Assembly on Sunday, indicted former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, former irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, former finance minister Etala Rajender, senior irrigation officials and others for their role in what has been described as one of the largest financial scandals in the state. The debate on the report lasted nearly 10 hours, after which the Chief Minister declared that the case would be entrusted to the CBI.
