Telangana HC refuses to stop govt from acting against KCR, Harish Rao on Kaleshwaram report

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday refused to restrain the State Government from taking action against former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and former Minister T Harish Rao based on the Justice PC Ghose Commission report on Kaleshwaram irrigation project irregularities.

A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin turned down the petitioners’ plea for immediate protection, but directed the government counsel to seek instructions on whether any action was imminent.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on October 7.

Petitioners seek protection against arrest

The two writ petitions filed by KCR and Harish Rao sought directions to the State not to act upon or implement the Ghose Commission report dated July 31. The petitioners also prayed for a restraint order until the writ petitions are finally heard.

Senior counsels Dama Seshadri Naidu (for KCR) and Aryama Sundaram (for Harish Rao) urged the court to hear the matter urgently, pointing to the likelihood of arrest.

They cited Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s statement in the Assembly on Sunday that ‘stringent action’ would follow against the former CM and minister, and that the case would be handed over to the CBI.

Court questions govt on action plan

During the hearing, the Chief Justice asked the government counsel to clarify whether the State intended to act on the report immediately.

“Tell us whether you are going to take action today, tomorrow, or if it is still in the pipeline. It is necessary since the matter is of urgency,” the Bench observed.

Despite repeated pleas, the Bench did not pass any interim order to prevent action against the petitioners for the day.

CBI investigation

The petitions will now be heard on October 7, with the Bench seeking the State Government’s stand on whether it plans to take action under Section 6(2) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which enables transfer of investigation to the CBI.

Both leaders were arrested following the government’s decision to hand over the probe into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project to the central agency.