Ghosh Commission Summons KCR, Harish, Etala Rajender

The Justice P C Ghosh-led Kaleshwaram Commission today issued notices to BRS leader and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, former minister T Harish Rao and BJP MP Etala Rajender, asking them to appear before it within 15 days.

The commission is conducting an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the construction of the barrages under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. Following the collapse of the Medigadda barrage, the State government had appointed the commission in March 2024 to investigate all three barrages, including the Annaram and Sundilla barrages too.

The commission, under the leadership of former Supreme Court judge Justice P C Ghosh, has questioned a wide range of stakeholders already, including senior officials from various departments related to construction, management, design, quality control, pay & accounts, irrigation and finance, and representatives of construction companies.

During the questioning, many senior engineers and officials reportedly stated that key decisions were made in the presence of KCR, and that several actions were implemented based on his direct orders. Harish Rao had served as the Irrigation Minister and Etala Rajender as the Finance Minister during KCR's first tenure as Chief Minister, and KCR himself was the irrigation minister during the second tenure, with Harish Rao being the Finance Minister. It is in light of this that the commission has decided to seek the views of the three persons on these matters, and accordingly issued the notices.

According to the schedule, KCR is expected to appear on June 5, Harish Rao on June 6 and Rajender on June 9.

The government has extended the commission's tenure seven times so far, based on requirements. The most recent extension, granted at the end of last month, was for one month - meaning the commission's term is currently set to end by May 31. There were also reports that Justice Ghosh would submit the final report to the government on the 21st or 22nd of this month. Clearly, then, the deadline is not going to be met, and the commission's tenure may be extended once more.