Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has challenged BRS leader T. Harish Rao to write a letter seeking an inquiry into all tenders and contracts awarded by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) from 2014 to date. He stated that if such a letter is received, he is ready to personally approach Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy upon his return from a foreign tour and ensure orders are issued for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

Addressing a press conference at Jyotirao Phule Bhavan, the Deputy Chief Minister strongly refuted allegations levelled against him in a vernacular daily in its columns. Bhatti described these as fabricated stories and malicious writings aimed at tarnishing his 40-year political career built on high ethical values. He demanded that Radhakrishna publicly retract his statements and admit they are false, failing which they would be treated as defamatory acts against his personality.

Bhatti emphasized that such reports are distressing as they damage the morale of nearly 42,000 permanent employees and 30,000 outsourcing workers of Singareni. He clarified that tenders and related files of Singareni do not come to him or the state government. SCCL operates through an independent Board with senior officers, functioning autonomously and transparently as per established rules, leaving no scope for political interference.

On the specific issue of the Naini coal block tender, Bhatti rejected claims that the mandatory site inspection before bidding was a new condition introduced by the Congress government to favor associates. He presented documentary evidence showing this provision existed in Singareni tender documents since 2018 (prepared by CMPDIL, a Coal India subsidiary), as well as in 2021 and 2023. He noted it is a standard practice followed by Coal India, NMDC, oil companies, IITs, IIMs, finance and defence departments, Gujarat PSUs, and several other major public sector organizations nationwide.

Bhatti also dismissed allegations by Harish Rao that handing over diesel supply to contractors had opened doors to scams, clarifying no changes were made during the current tenure. This system was introduced in 2022 under the previous BRS government to address GST changes and prevent diesel theft, and is widely practiced across contracts in the state and country.

He condemned false propaganda linking Singareni tenders to the Chief Minister’s brother-in-law, clarifying that Shodha Constructions Private Limited is headed by MD Deepti Reddy, daughter of former TRS MLA Kandala Upender Reddy, with Sujan Reddy as her husband. He added that among the five major contractors currently operating in Singareni, all are related to or associated with BRS leaders.

Bhatti asserted that he entered politics not to amass wealth but to protect public assets like Singareni, built on the blood and sweat of workers. He warned against allowing vultures or vested interests to harm the institution and stressed the urgency of developing new coal blocks amid global green energy shifts to safeguard future production, revenue, and livelihoods. The government is also diversifying Singareni into critical minerals.

He appealed to all not to spread false propaganda for personal or political gain, as it irreparably damages Telangana’s assets. Bhatti reiterated his commitment to high moral values and warned he would not remain silent against attempts to malign his reputation.

If Clean, Why Scrap Naini Coal Block Tenders? Harish

Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader T. Harish Rao has launched a sharp counter-attack on Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka over allegations of corruption in the coal sector, particularly the cancellation of tenders for the Naini coal block under Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

In a series of pointed questions directed at Bhatti Vikramarka via social media, Harish Rao challenged the Congress government's narrative on the coal scam. He asked: "If no scam has occurred, why did the government announce the cancellation of the Naini tenders?" Rao argued that the very act of canceling the Naini coal block tenders—amid allegations of irregularities—itself serves as evidence of corruption. He further questioned why only the Naini tenders were revoked while other similar tenders issued under the same system remained untouched.

Rao accused the Congress regime, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, of presiding over a major coal scam in which Revanth Reddy allegedly played a central role as the "ring man." He asserted that no amount of evasion or deflection could alter the facts, stating, "No matter how many excuses you provide, it is true that a coal scam took place under your Congress rule, and Revanth Reddy played the role of ring man in it."

Highlighting procedural issues, Rao pointed to the 'site visit certificate' system—introduced by the previous BRS government in 2018 and implemented in Singareni mines—as a measure that exposed irregularities. He noted that the implementation of site visits and the subsequent cancellation of Naini tenders confirm the existence of a scam. Rao also raised concerns over the government's silence on an alleged solar power scam in Singareni, accusing Bhatti Vikramarka of dodging accountability and acting in defense of the Chief Minister.

Demanding transparency and justice, Harish Rao called for an impartial investigation by a sitting judge or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged involvement of Revanth Reddy and his family members. He expressed respect for Bhatti Vikramarka personally and offered to formally request such a probe in writing if the Deputy CM committed to ensuring its fairness and independence. Rao warned that the BRS would approach the courts if necessary to pursue the matter.