Murder of Rajalinga Murthy: Congress alleges KCR’s role in silencing Kaleshwaram project critics
Minister Komatireddy said attacks on activists, social workers and Congress workers in Warangal and Kodangal were also incited by BRS party leaders
By Newsmeter Network Published on 20 Feb 2025 4:43 PM IST
Telangana: Rajalinga Murthy complained against Kaleshwaram Irrigation project and was stabbed to death at Bhupalpally
Hyderabad: The murder of Telangana activist Nagavelli Rajalinga Murthy on February 19 at Bhupalpally has turned into a full-fledged political war with the Congress blaming former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao for the ‘politically motivated murder’.
“KCR and KTR (KT Rama Rao) have nurtured political murders. They got Rajalinga killed because he brought out the irregularities and corruption in the Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project,” said Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.
Congress MLA from Bhupalpally, Gandra Satyanarayana Rao, demanded a full-fledged CBI investigation into the contract killing of Rajalinga. Komatireddy also said that the attacks on activists, social workers and Congress workers in Warangal and Kodangal in the past were incited by the BRS party leaders. Reddy said, “BRS has only one goal, to hire killers. There is no room for political murders in Telangana. We will protect those who fight against corruption.”
How the murder of Rajalinga Murthy was carried out
Rajalinga Murthy was brutally stabbed to death by two unidentified assailants in Bhupalpally on February 19 night. He was going on a bike when the assailants attacked him.
Who was Rajalinga Murthy?
Rajalinga Murthy complained against former CM K Chandrashekar Rao and former minister Harish Rao about the alleged corruption in Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project. Murthy, in October 2024, complained to the Bhupalpally police against KCR, the former irrigation minister and others regarding the sinking of the barrage pillars.
At the time, the police did not register his complaint, prompting Murthy to approach a local court and file a case against them. He alleged that a large amount of public funds was misappropriated in the Kaleshwaram project.
His murder comes a day before the hearing in the court. His wife Sarla claimed, “My husband was offered Rs 10 lakh to withdraw the case by former MLA Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy’s supporters.”
Police say land dispute
The local Bhupalpally police said they are narrowing down the cause of the murder from multiple reasons, one of them being a land dispute. The police have formed special teams to nab the attackers.
Murthy had joined Congress
Before the Telangana Assembly elections, Murthy joined the Congress party. His wife Sarla is the municipal councillor in Bhupalpally municipality.
