Telangana Government Defends Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project Inquiry, Claims Harish Rao Received 'Excess Justice'
The Telangana government presented a robust defense before the state's High Court on Monday, asserting that former minister and BRS MLA T Harish Rao was granted 'excess justice' rather than merely natural justice during the PC Ghose commission's investigation into alleged irregularities in the massive Kaleshwaram irrigation project.
State's Legal Arguments Against Harish Rao's Petition
Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the state government, argued forcefully before the bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin. Singhvi contended that Harish Rao had voluntarily participated in the inquiry process without any coercion or objection.
'There is absolutely not a whisper of procedure not being followed, no request for cross-examination, nothing at all from him,' Singhvi stated, characterizing Harish Rao's subsequent petition to quash the commission's report and its allegations as 'a retrospective afterthought by way of an ambush.'
Transparency and Fact-Finding Versus Coercion
Singhvi emphasized that accepting Harish Rao's legal arguments would effectively strip the government of its legitimate power to investigate matters of significant public interest. He alleged the former minister was operating under the false premise that fact-finding commissions are inherently coercive or punitive in nature.
'By attacking a version of the law that does not actually exist, they are fighting a ghost. Since these reports are meant for fact-finding rather than enforcing compliance, the argument collapses,' Singhvi told the court.
The senior counsel further argued that the government's decision to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) demonstrated transparency and bona fides, rather than any political vendetta. This move, he noted, was preferable to entrusting the investigation to the state police.
Serious Allegations Regarding Project Execution and Approvals
Singhvi referenced the National Dam Safety Authority and highlighted that the matter was now before a central agency, which had raised grave concerns regarding the project's execution, particularly concerning the Medigadda barrage.
He presented a detailed list of alleged procedural failures:
- No approvals were obtained from the Central Water Commission
- Recommendations from high-power committees were disregarded
- The expert committee report was ignored
- There was no approval from the cabinet sub-committee
Furthermore, Singhvi pointed to the Comptroller and Auditor General's finding that the project's cost had ballooned to over ₹1.4 lakh crore, far exceeding initial estimates. He also cited findings regarding design defects and the movement of critical files between the Irrigation ministry (then headed by Harish Rao) and the Chief Minister's Office, as well as between Harish Rao and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Financial Burden and Conclusion of Arguments
In a striking conclusion, Singhvi stated, 'The only legacy of the project is that the state is now paying around ₹6,500 crore per year in interest.' He urged the court to dismiss Harish Rao's petition, framing the government's actions as necessary oversight of a project on which over ₹80,000 crore was spent.
The bench is scheduled to hear the state's replies to separate petitions filed by former chief minister KCR, senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal, and former IAS officer SK Joshi on Tuesday, continuing this significant legal examination of one of Telangana's most expensive infrastructure projects.
