Kaleshwaram probe: Telangana HC extends interim protection to ex-CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, Harish Rao till January 2026

Constituted by the Congress government, the Ghose Commission investigated alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government’s rule and submitted its report on August 31. After the report was submitted to the state government, the case was forwarded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 1, following a marathon debate in the Assembly.

Kaleshwaram project probe: Telangana High Court extends interim protection to KCR, Harish Rao and others until November 12

On Wednesday, the counsel for the state sought more time to file their counter-affidavits. The Bench expressed displeasure over the delay in filing of counters and stated: “After one month also the counter is not filed…very well, you file, we will keep it in January.” The counsel for the petitioner submitted that each of the petitioners faces distinct allegations that need to be met either way.

The Bench then held that, as a counter affidavit has been filed only in one of the batch matters, even after sufficient time was granted. “Counsel for the State prays for some more time to file a counter-affidavit in the other three connected matters. Four weeks are allowed. Three weeks thereafter to the petitioners to file replies. Let the matter appear in January 2026. Interim order extended, the Bench order.

On September 2, a day after the report was tabled in the Assembly, KCR and Harish Rao approached the High Court, expressing concern that the state would use the Commission’s adverse findings against them to form the basis of the CBI investigation. 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.

All of them have claimed that the Commission did not issue them notices under Sections 8-B and 8-C of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, which they claimed 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.