Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], September 1 : BRS MLC K Kavitha, reacting to the Telangana government's decision to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Kaleshwaram project, defended BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
She alleged that any taint on KCR's image regarding the Kaleshwaram issue is due to BRS leaders Harish Rao and Santosh Rao, accusing them of conspiring against her and KCR.
She stated, "In the CBI probe, KCR will emerge spotless, like a pearl washed clean...If KCR's image is tainted in the Kaleshwaram issue, the reason is Harish Rao and Santosh Rao. Despite several conspiracies against me by them, I endured. Behind Harish and Santosh Rao, it is certainly Revanth Reddy. KCR is facing a CBI probe because of Harish Rao and Santosh Rao."
Sharpening the attack, she said, "I am not a puppet to play to the tunes of the BJP or the Congress...KCR never thinks about food or money. But false accusations are being hurled at KCR. People will remember the Kaleshwaram project for 200 years to come. It is tragic that a great leader like KCR is now facing a CBI probe."
The Telangana government has decided to order a CBI probe into the Kaleshwaram project issue. The government has already constituted a commission, led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, to investigate alleged irregularities, misuse of public funds, and corruption in the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages in the Kaleshwaram project, according to a press release from the Telangana SMO.
The Ghose Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the government on July 31, 2025. The state cabinet approved the commission report on August 4, 2025. The state cabinet also decided to table the report in the assembly and discuss it in detail.
The Ghose Commission found several irregularities, including negligence, deliberate suppression of facts and financial irregularities. The Commission concluded that faults occurred during the construction of the three barrages. The commission also exposed the previous BRS government's failure to prepare a plan for the Kaleshwaram project.
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report stated that the Medigadda barrage was damaged due to deficiencies in planning, design, and quality control. The NDSA has identified that the defects in the construction were due to poor quality and maintenance. The NDSA and the Commission reports have made it clear that a deeper and more comprehensive investigation is required on all these issues.
Inter-state entities, various departments and agencies of the Central and State Governments are involved in this project. Since Central Public Sector Undertakings, such as WAPCOS, and financial institutions, like PFC and REC, are involved in the design, construction, and financing of the project, the government decided to hand over this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Hence, the House decided to hand over the investigation of the Kaleshwaram project case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.