Hyderabad: The Telangana government on Monday ordered a CBI probe into alleged corruption and failures in the Kaleshwaram barrages, with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy making the announcement in the Assembly.
The decision is politically significant as the BRS government under former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao had earlier blocked the CBI’s entry into Telangana by withdrawing general consent in 2022. That move, issued through G.O. 51, meant the CBI could not investigate any case in the state without specific government approval.
CBI probe into Kaleshwaram stirs Telangana politics
The ban followed the high-profile MLAs’ poaching case, in which the BRS alleged BJP involvement. Amid fears of “politically driven” CBI action, the then KCR government cancelled consent. However, courts retained the authority to direct CBI probes, as seen when the Supreme Court handed over the sensational Vaman Rao couple murder case to the agency earlier this year.
By now transferring the Kaleshwaram case itself to the CBI, the Congress government has overturned KCR’s stance. The move has raised eyebrows, especially since Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have often branded the CBI and ED as “BJP tools.”
The Justice P.C. Ghose Commission, which probed the Medigadda barrage collapse, held KCR directly responsible for interference in design and execution. It noted irregularities in planning, construction and approvals. With the case now in CBI hands, political observers say BJP could sharpen its attacks on BRS, while Congress positions itself as acting decisively against corruption.
Meanwhile, Telangana’s political scene is heating up ahead of elections. Congress is projecting confidence of retaining power, while BRS hopes for a comeback despite internal rifts and defections. The BJP, citing public discontent with both rivals, believes it can expand its footprint.
The CBI’s entry is expected to further reshape the battle lines, with the Kaleshwaram probe potentially altering the state’s political landscape in the run-up to polls.
