Telangana Relaxes CBI Consent Withdrawal for Kaleshwaram Probe
Hyderabad, Sept 2 (VGLOBE NEWS) – In a significant move, the Telangana government has decided to allow the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe alleged irregularities in the multi-crore Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), relaxing its earlier order that barred the central agency from conducting investigations in the state.
The Home Department issued a Government Order (GO) on Tuesday, permitting the CBI to conduct a one-time probe into the allegations of corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and irregularities in the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, key components of the massive irrigation project.
Revanth Reddy’s Announcement in Assembly
The Congress government’s decision comes a day after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, during a marathon debate in the State Assembly, announced that the case would be handed over to the CBI. The debate was held on the report of the P. C. Ghose Commission, which was appointed in March 2024 to investigate allegations of financial and structural irregularities in the project.
The Commission submitted its report on July 31, 2025, highlighting lapses in planning, execution, and quality control, and recommended criminal action against those responsible. The report was tabled in the Assembly on August 31, where members of the House expressed concern over the magnitude of the irregularities.
Findings of NDSA Reports
The government order refers to the reports of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) on the sinking of six piers of the Medigadda barrage on October 21, 2023. According to the NDSA, the catastrophic failure was not a standalone accident but the result of serious deficiencies in planning, designing, execution, and monitoring. It concluded that lack of stringent quality control measures during construction contributed significantly to the collapse.
Why CBI Was Brought In
The GO noted that the case involves multiple layers of responsibility, including participation by central agencies and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), apart from state-level contractors and officials. Given the inter-state nature of the project, the involvement of central departments, and the scale of public funds utilized, the government observed that only a central investigation agency like the CBI could conduct a credible, impartial, and comprehensive probe.
Background of General Consent Withdrawal
The development marks a reversal of the earlier stand taken by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government, which withdrew general consent to the CBI on August 30, 2022. At the time, the BRS argued that central agencies were being misused by the Union government to target opposition-ruled states. Telangana thus joined other states such as West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab in barring the CBI from taking up new cases without the state’s permission.
By relaxing the order for the Kaleshwaram case, the Congress government has opened the door for the central agency to investigate one of the largest irrigation projects in the country, often described as the “lifeline of Telangana.”
Political Significance
The decision is likely to have major political ramifications. The Kaleshwaram project, launched under the BRS government led by K. Chandrashekar Rao, was projected as a game-changer for Telangana’s irrigation needs. However, opposition parties have consistently accused the previous regime of inflating costs, bypassing norms, and indulging in large-scale corruption.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, while addressing the Assembly, alleged that the project turned into “the biggest scam in independent India” and vowed that those responsible would not be spared. He maintained that only a CBI investigation could ensure accountability and restore public trust.
Next Steps
With the GO now in force, the CBI is expected to formally take over the probe. Sources indicate that the agency may examine tenders, contracts, payments, and the role of various officials and contractors involved in the project, apart from assessing responsibility for the Medigadda collapse.
The case is likely to become one of the most high-profile corruption investigations in Telangana in recent years and could shape the political narrative in the state in the run-up to the 2028 elections.
