Kaleshwaram probe stuck at crossroads

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What was once projected as a defining accountability exercise by the Congress government now appears to be caught in uncertainty. Months after the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission submitted its report on alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, there is little indication of what course the state government intends to take next.

The Kaleshwaram issue dominated Telangana politics after the Congress came to power in December 2023. The government constituted the commission, oversaw an extensive inquiry and later discussed the findings in both the Cabinet and the Assembly. The developments sparked intense political battles, with the ruling party repeatedly targeting the previous BRS regime over alleged corruption and mismanagement in one of the state's largest irrigation projects.

However, the momentum suffered a setback after BRS chief K. Chandrashekar Rao, former minister T. Harish Rao and senior IAS officers S.K. Joshi and Smita Sabharwal challenged the commission's findings before the Telangana High Court. On April 22, 2026, the court ruled that the inquiry had not fully complied with the principles of natural justice and that those concerned had not been given adequate opportunity to present their case. The court consequently directed that no action be taken solely on the basis of the commission's report.

The verdict effectively halted the government's immediate plans and placed the future of the investigation in doubt. 

While the state government promptly announced that it would challenge the order in the Supreme Court, little progress has been visible since then. Ministers and senior officials travelled to New Delhi soon after the judgment, signalling that legal options were being explored. Yet nearly two months later, there is no official clarity on whether an appeal has been filed or when the matter will be pursued before the apex court.

The prolonged silence has fuelled speculation that the government itself is yet to decide its next move. Political observers say the administration appears caught between approaching the Supreme Court and ordering a fresh inquiry that would satisfy the legal concerns raised by the High Court.

Adding to the uncertainty is the status of the proposed CBI investigation. While discussing the commission's report in the Assembly, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced that the matter would be referred to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The state subsequently conveyed its decision to the Centre, creating expectations of an independent probe into the allegations surrounding the project.

Those expectations remain unmet. The CBI inquiry has shown little movement, with Congress leaders accusing the BJP-led Central Government of delaying the process due to political differences with the Telangana government. At the same time, some political circles believe the Centre may be reluctant to proceed in view of the High Court's observations on the commission's inquiry process.

As a result, both avenues that were expected to drive the investigation forward — a Supreme Court challenge and a CBI probe — remain stalled. Critics argue that a matter involving thousands of crores of public money cannot be left in prolonged limbo.

The High Court's observations have also raised larger questions about the future of the inquiry. While the allegations themselves have not been dismissed, the court made it clear that any action must be backed by a process that fully adheres to the principles of natural justice. Whether the government chooses to pursue legal remedies, order a fresh investigation or adopt another course remains unclear.

Analysts note that while the Congress government pursued the Kaleshwaram issue aggressively after coming to power, the same urgency has not been visible since the commission submitted its report. They argue that public confidence will depend not on political rhetoric but on the government's ability to take clear and legally sustainable action.

For now, the Kaleshwaram probe remains at a standstill. With no visible progress on either the legal or investigative front, questions continue to grow over whether the controversy will eventually reach a definitive conclusion or fade into yet another unresolved political battle.