Hyderabad: Parents of Telangana Group-1 rankers on Tuesday appealed to political parties to refrain from dragging their children’s hard-earned achievements into political controversies. Their remarks follow widespread speculation and allegations that top ranks in the competitive exam were secured through bribes as high as ₹3 crore.
At a press conference held at Somajiguda Press Club, emotional parents and several Group-1 candidates spoke out against what they called “unfounded and harmful” accusations. They called on leaders to provide evidence instead of levelling baseless allegations.
“Please stop politicising the Group-1 results. If someone has proof, let them present it. Otherwise, these claims are damaging our children’s futures,” said the parent of a Group-1 candidate.
Many families said they had made enormous sacrifices—including taking loans and working extra hours—to support their children’s dreams. “We have skipped meals to fund their coaching. Now people are saying these ranks were bought? It’s heartbreaking,” said another parent.
The controversy follows a 222-page High Court judgment issued on September 9, which addressed 12 petitions related to alleged irregularities in the Group-1 Mains exam. The petitions had sought both cancellation and protection of the declared results.
Lalitha, the mother of a candidate who secured 67th rank, said her son studied for years with complete dedication. “We don’t have ₹3 crore. We don’t even have ₹30 lakh. These rumours are an insult to our efforts,” she said.
The father of a candidate who secured 46th rank also voiced frustration. “Why should our children be targets for political gain? They studied hard and succeeded. Please leave them out of your politics.”
