BJP Floor Leader Asserts CBI Will Investigate Kaleshwaram Corruption After Formal Request
In a significant development in the Telangana assembly, BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy declared on Sunday that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will definitely probe the corruption allegations surrounding the Kaleshwaram project. However, he emphasized that this investigation will proceed only after the Telangana government submits a proper formal letter explicitly seeking an inquiry into the alleged Rs 1 lakh crore scam.
State Government's Limited Scope Request Questioned
Speaking during the discussion on demands for grants in the assembly, the BJP MLA revealed that the state government had previously requested a CBI probe based on reports from the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the PC Ghose commission. However, this request was narrowly focused solely on irregularities in the three barrages of the Kaleshwaram project: Medigadda, Sundilla, and Annaram.
"As the then TPCC president and later as the chief minister, A Revanth Reddy alleged irregularities in Kaleshwaram, Dharani, Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya, E-Formula race, power purchase agreements, phone tapping, and the ORR lease. Let the state government seek a CBI probe into all these issues, and we are ready to ensure that the investigation will be taken up," Alleti Maheshwar Reddy asserted during his assembly address.
Doubts Raised About Chief Minister's True Intentions
The BJP floor leader further expressed skepticism about whether Chief Minister Revanth Reddy genuinely desires a comprehensive CBI investigation that might lead to the arrest of former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. "During a chat with media persons in New Delhi, Revanth said there was no need to arrest KCR as he was already kept under arrest in his farmhouse," Alleti Maheshwar Reddy alleged, suggesting potential political maneuvering behind the scenes.
This statement highlights the ongoing political tensions in Telangana, where corruption allegations against previous administrations remain a contentious issue. The BJP's position clarifies that while they support a thorough investigation, procedural formalities must be strictly followed, with the state government taking the initiative to formally request the probe across all alleged irregularities rather than just the limited scope currently presented.
The Kaleshwaram project, a massive irrigation initiative in Telangana, has been under scrutiny for alleged financial mismanagement and corruption. The BJP's insistence on a comprehensive CBI investigation covering multiple projects and allegations indicates their strategy to keep pressure on the ruling Congress government to address corruption claims transparently and completely.
