Telangana Govt entrusts CBI with investigation into Kaleshwaram project lapses

Telangana Government has given its consent to the premier investigation agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to probe into allegations of irregularities, embezzlement of public funds and corrupt practices in the construction of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of Kaleshwaram project.

The State Home department special chief secretary Ravi Gupta issued a notification on Monday (September 1, 2025) empowering the Central investigation agency to exercise powers and jurisdiction of the members of Delhi Special Police Establishment in the State against all the accused persons including public servants and private persons, companies in relaxation of earlier orders.

The earlier order

The previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Government issued orders (GO Ms. 51 Home (Special) Department dated August 30, 2022) withdrawing the general consent previously granted to the CBI to conduct investigations within Telangana State. The previous government’s action was seen as a formal reversal of the general consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 which governs the CBI’s powers.

The development comes within two days of the State Government deciding to entrust the investigation to the CBI after a marathon debate on Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose Commission’s report in the Legislative Assembly.

A brief outline

The fresh order, however, comes at a time when the High Court — in response to a petition filed by BRS MLA and former Minister T. Harish Rao — had restrained the State government from taking any action against K. Chandrashekar Rao and others in the matter till October 7. Mr. Ravi Gupta outlined the series of events that took place including the sinking of six piers of Medigadda barrage. This was followed by inspection of the barrage by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) which found that the failure of Medigadda barrage was due to a combination of issues including planning, designing, quality control and construction deficiencies — due to a lack of stringent quality control.

Ghose Commission appointed

The government had thereafter appointed a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose under Section 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry, 1952 to inquire into the allegations of irregularities, embezzlement and corrupt practices in the construction of the three barrages of the Kaleshwaram project. The Commission concluded that “there was wrong and in fact, no planning” in the construction of the three barrages.

The Telangana Legislative Assembly too undertook a short discussion on the subject and it was opined that the findings of the NDSA and Commission of Inquiry warranted a thorough and detailed investigation. “It was further observed that the project involves various inter State issues and multiple State and Central Government departments and agencies. Considering the complexities involved including the participation of the Central Public Sector Undertakings in the project design and construction, it was deemed appropriate to entrust the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation,” the order said.

The government said it would extend all necessary cooperation to the CBI for its investigation into the allegations related to the project.