Revanth Reddy reveals wish to get KCR arrested

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said the phone-tapping case against K Chandrashekhar Rao is in its final stage, with a chargesheet expected soon, triggering speculation over a possible arrest while the government denies political bias

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy‘s chit chat with the media in Delhi on Thursday was marked by one factor, his unfulfilled wish to get BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao arrested. Though he said his government was ‘not biased’ against Rao, he said the alleged phone-tapping case in Telangana had reached its final stage and that a charge sheet would be filed soon.

Rao could face arrest, he said, without revealing how he could predict an arrest when the charge sheet was yet to be filed.

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There were repeated mentions of the possibilities of Chandrashekhar Rao being arrested. “But if we want to send him to jail, we will act according to rules and based on evidence,” he said, adding that the BRS president’s questioning in the phone-tapping case was based on “information gathered” during the investigation.

Dismissing allegations that his government too was involved in phone tapping, he said former intelligence official Prabhakar Rao was brought back following Supreme Court intervention after non-cooperation from the Centre.

After queries on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, Revanth Reddy said a comprehensive study was under way and action would be taken as per expert committee recommendations. He claimed that any move to hold water at the Medigadda barrage could result in complete structural damage. The Chief Minister said this even though the study was still in progress.

The Chief Minister also said the State had sought a CBI probe into the issue but was awaiting a response from the Union government. He questioned why central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate had not acted in the Kaleshwaram and Formula E cases while investigating Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in other matters. He also asked why Union Minister G Kishan Reddy had not pressed for a central probe into allegations against the BRS leadership.

Referring to the possibility of simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2029 following Census and delimitation, Revanth Reddy said he expected to continue as Chief Minister for another 10 and a half years. “It’s like I am the King and also the Minister. There is no competition for me,” he claimed.

On alleged irregularities in Singareni tenders, the Chief Minister said the matter would be discussed in the next Assembly session and all documents would be placed before the House. He alleged that the financial liabilities of Singareni dated back to the previous regime.

Claiming that the Congress would win majority seats in the municipal polls, he also rejected allegations linking Congress leaders to the death of a BJP councillor candidate in Mahabubnagar, adding that the BJP could seek a CBI probe, if required.