Kaleshwaram probe: Telangana HC extends interim protection to former CM KCR, Harish Rao and others for another month

‘Filed reply affidavits well in time’
On Monday, Advocate General A Sudarshan Reddy submitted that the petitioners have filed their reply affidavits to counter affidavits in the last few days and, therefore, written submissions could not be submitted. During the last hearing on November 12, the bench had granted four weeks to file the counter affidavits and three weeks thereafter to the petitioners to file their reply affidavits and posted the matter for hearing on January 19, 2026.

Senior Advocate C Aryama Sundaram, representing the petitioners, submitted that the counter affidavits have been filed by the state belatedly, about a month beyond the time granted by the court in its November 12 order, and the reply affidavits were filed well in time before the matter was taken up on Monday. He, however, added that written submissions could not be submitted from their side.

The bench, in view of the submissions of counsels appearing for both sides, adjourned the matter. The court ordered the written submissions to be submitted one week before the next date of hearing and listed the matter for hearing on February 25, 2026. Meanwhile, the interim order, granted earlier, shall continue till the next date of hearing, the bench stated.

‘Grave irregularities across KLIP’
The PC Ghose Commission had concluded “grave irregularities across conceptualisation, planning, design, construction, award of contract, execution, O&M, quality control, and financial mismanagement” in the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.

The petitioners have approached the court soon after the PC Ghose Commission of Inquiry report was forwarded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 1, following a marathon debate in the state assembly. The Ghose Commission, constituted by the Congress government, had investigated alleged irregularities in the KLIP during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government’s rule and submitted its report to the government on August 31.

Expressing concern that the state would use the Commission’s adverse findings against them to form the basis of the CBI investigation, Chandrasekhar Rao and Harish Rao had approached the high court on September 2. Retired bureaucrat Joshi and Sabharwal, who is presently posted as Member Secretary, Telangana Finance Commission, approached the court with similar pleas on September 3 and September 25, respectively.

They have alleged that the Commission did not issue them notices under Sections 8-B and 8-C of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, and claimed it was against the law and natural justice. They alleged that they were given no opportunity to respond to the allegations against them or to cross-examine the witnesses.