KTR challenges Revanth Reddy to judicial probe into family properties

BRS working president KT Rama Rao challenged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to a judicial probe into the properties of both families, demanded an Assembly debate and accused the Congress government of diverting attention from failures and 22-A land controversy.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Thursday challenged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to a probe by a sitting High Court or Supreme Court judge into the properties of both families from 1954 to date. He demanded that the suspension of BRS legislators be lifted and that the Assembly hold a comprehensive debate on their properties.

He said the BRS was ready to attend the House for even a month to answer every allegation and put forward its counterclaims. He said he was ready for any punishment if the Chief Minister proved his charges. He challenged the Chief Minister to agree to the same scrutiny of his family’s properties.

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In a strong counter to Revanth Reddy’s allegations against former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and his family in the Assembly, Rama Rao accused him of peddling lies and half-truths to divert attention from the government’s failures and the controversy surrounding 22-A lands. He demanded that Revanth Reddy apologise to Chandrashekhar Rao for repeatedly claiming that the latter owned a 1,000-acre farmhouse.

“Revanth Reddy himself stated in the Assembly that KCR had 67 acres, which was already disclosed in election affidavits. He must now apologise to KCR for spreading lies and making misleading statements,” he said, adding that his family had owned hundreds of acres, with Chandrashekhar Rao being born in 1954 in a house itself spread over two acres.

The BRS working president questioned how Revanth Reddy’s family members had set up defence and aerospace companies after he became Chief Minister and asked how the Chief Minister acquired his Jubilee Hills property. He also raised questions over the family of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who also established defence and aerospace companies to grab government lands.

“Revanth Reddy completed his graduation in seven years and started as a wall-painter. I request him to share the secret of his wealth over the years to scores of graduates and qualified youth so that they too make money,” he took a dig at the Chief Minister. He accused Revanth of misusing his position to benefit his family and said allegations against BRS leaders would not silence the Opposition on 22-A lands.

He also questioned why the Chief Minister’s Jubilee Hills residence was removed from the 22-A list overnight, while ordinary citizens who legitimately owned properties were being penalised. He said the Congress government had shut down Dharani and brought in Bhu Bharati to facilitate large-scale land grabbing.