Harish Rao seeks CVC probe into demolition of Kakatiya-era temple

BRS leader T Harish Rao alleged that an 800-year-old Kakatiya-era Shiva temple in Warangal was demolished in search of hidden treasure under the guise of school construction. He demanded an FIR, a CVC probe and action against alleged irregularities in school tenders.

Warangal: BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao accused the Congress government of demolishing the historic Shiva temple in Ashok Nagar village of Warangal district in search of hidden treasure under the pretext of school construction. He demanded immediate registration of an FIR, restoration of the temple, and an in-depth investigation by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

Harish Rao visited the ruins of the 800-year-old Kakatiya-era Shiva temple in Ashok Nagar village on Monday and performed special prayers at the demolished site along with local residents. Former Ministers Errabelli Dayakar Rao, former MLAs Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, Shankar Naik, Vinay Bhaskar, Aroori Ramesh, and former Corporation Chairman Errolla Srinivas accompanied him.

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Speaking to the media, Harish Rao alleged that the temple’s sanctum sanctorum, which was built by Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva, was razed between midnight and 1 am. A pit measuring 24 feet deep was dug beneath it under the cover of darkness. “If this were for school construction, why was it done in the dead of night?” he asked, holding Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy responsible for the entire episode.

He said the district Archaeology Department officer filed a written complaint with the Collector on May 7, stating that the excavation was carried out in search of hidden treasure. Despite the complaint, no FIR was registered, no machinery was seized, and no action was taken. “This points to the involvement of top functionaries in the State government,” he added.

The former Minister questioned how land recorded as endowment land in the Dharani portal during the BRS regime was secretly reclassified as government land in the Bhu Bharati portal after the Congress came to power. He also questioned why a school originally sanctioned at another location in the same constituency as per the GO was shifted to a site with a standing temple when sufficient alternative land was available nearby.

“A school can be built near a temple. But why demolish the temple itself?” he asked.

Harish Rao demanded immediate registration of an FIR, arrest of those responsible, seizure of machinery, and handover of the site to the Archaeology Department under the 1958 Act, which covers structures over 100 years old. He announced that the BRS would file complaints with the Central Vigilance Commission and State Vigilance Department for an in-depth probe.

The BRSLP deputy leader also targeted alleged large-scale financial irregularities in tenders for 76 Integrated Schools across the State. He alleged that all contracts were awarded at excess rates ranging between 4.86 per cent and 4.99 per cent above the estimated cost, and not a single tender went into the negative. He further alleged that Rs 494 crore of public money was siphoned off through inflated tenders. A retired official was appointed as Chief Engineer to facilitate the process, he claimed.

Responding to Revanth Reddy’s claim that the winning contractors were linked to the BRS, Harish Rao challenged the Chief Minister to cancel the tenders immediately. “I am the one demanding cancellation,” he said, calling for the immediate cancellation of mobilisation advances and an end to the alleged systematic loot of public funds.