Kaleshwaram project probe: Telangana HC grants relief to former chief secy Shailendra Joshi till next hearing

The bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin directed that no adverse action be taken against the petitioner based on the Commission’s findings until the next hearing. The decision comes after Joshi argued that “the inquiry commission had rendered findings against them without following the proper procedure outlined in the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, specifically without issuing a notice under Sections 8B and 8C of the Act.”

The petitioner sought protection similar to that granted to BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and former irrigation minister T Harish Rao in related writ petitions. In those cases, the court had also provided interim relief, citing similar procedural irregularities by the inquiry commission.

While the bench granted interim protection, it was noted that the Telangana government on September 1, 2025, had handed over the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough investigation.

The CBI probe will focus on allegations of irregularities, embezzlement of public funds, and corrupt practices related to the construction of the Kaleshwaram barrages. This action was taken in light of the inquiry commission’s report and a report by the National Dam Safety Authority.

Advocate General A Sudharshan Reddy informed the court that the state government, for the time being, will not take any adverse action against the petitioner based on the Commission’s report. However, he emphasised that the CBI is a statutory investigating agency and will conduct its investigation independently. “Therefore, the apprehensions of the petitioner at this stage is misplaced,” the court observed.

The court has given all parties three weeks to file their counter-affidavits to the main petition. The case is now listed for the next hearing on October 7, 2025, along with the two other petitions, that of Chandrashekar Rao and Harish Rao.