KCR held ‘directly accountable' for Kaleshwaram irregularities, PC Ghose Commission indicts ex-CM, ministers
According to highly placed sources, the Commission reportedly found that the project was taken up without Cabinet approval and fixed responsibility on the then irrigation minister T Harish Rao and then finance minister Eatala Rajender.
It also recommended the severest legal action against six irrigation engineers for deliberately misleading the Commission and for giving false depositions. The report noted that the then engineer-in-chief, C Muralidhar Rao, recently caught by the ACB, misrepresented facts to the Central Water Commission.
One of the most serious findings relates to KCR's directive to continuously impound water in the barrages to full capacity for lifting through pump houses, despite barrages being designed as low-head diversion structures, not storage systems. This, the Commission stated, was a 'major cause for distress', linking it directly to the sinking of piers at the Medigadda barrage.
The report flagged massive cost escalations, flawed designs and procedural lapses throughout the project's construction. The Commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge PC Ghose, described KLIS as a scheme marked by 'rampant and brazen procedural and financial irregularities'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
NHRC issues show-cause notice over stampede death at Pushpa 2 screening
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to Telangana Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, asking why it should not recommend a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of a woman who died in a stampede during the pre-release screening of Pushpa 2 on December 4 last year. The action follows a complaint filed by advocate Rama Rao Immaneni regarding the death of 35-year-old Revathi and critical injuries to her son after an alleged lathi charge by the police and stampede at Sandhya 70mm theatre in Chikkadpally, Hyderabad, when actor Allu Arjun suddenly arrived for the screening. The initial report submitted by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Hyderabad City, on March 20, stated that permission for the event was rejected and that allegations of lathi charge were false. It further submitted that during inquiry, it had come to light that the complaint was filed to divert attention from the theatre management's responsibility in this incident. The report claimed that police had made crowd control arrangements as professionally done for movie releases, and that the officers on duty 'exhibited exceptional proactive response' in managing and controlling the unexpected crowd and also rescued the deceased woman and shifted her to KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, for better treatment. However, the NHRC, after reviewing the matter, questioned why the police allowed the crowd, Allu Arjun and the theatre management to gather for an event in the absence of permission. The NHRC's proceedings dated May 2 expressed concern that the police did not take legal action against the actor and management at the very first occurrence, prior to the incident itself, for breaking the law and attending unlawful events. 'The Commission fails to understand why the police allowed the crowd/ accused actor/ management to collect at the place for the event which did not have the permission,' the notice read. On December 5 last year, a case was registered against the theatre management, Allu Arjun and his security staff. Ten people, including the actor, were arrested. The investigation is under way. The Commission, after considering the report on record, held that 'there was a negligence and lapse in maintaining the public order in the part of police authorities in providing adequate assistance and ensure the safety when it was clear that there will be a huge crowd gathering'. It also directed the Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Hyderabad, to ensure fair investigation into the matter and submit a status report in the case within six weeks.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Theatre stampede: NHRC issues show cause notice to Telangana Chief Secy
Hyderabad, The National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday issued show cause notice to the Telangana government Chief Secretary as to why it should not recommend a compensation of ₹five lakh to the next of kin of the woman, who died in a stampede during the screening of actor Allu Arjun's film Pushpa-2 last year. Theatre stampede: NHRC issues show cause notice to Telangana Chief Secy The action came while dealing with a complaint lodged by advocate Rama Rao Immaneni, who alleged that lathi charge by the police and lack of necessary arrangements when Allu Arjun entered the theatre, resulted in death of the woman Revathi and injuries to her children. Following the Commission's direction, the city police submitted an action taken report on March 3, 2025. During the course of enquiry, it was revealed that permission for the event was rejected and Allu Arjun did not have permission for a road show and that the allegations of lathi charge were false, the report said. The report said arrangements were made for crowd control as professionally done for new movie releases despite the rejection of permission. The inadequate infrastructure at the theatre, including limited parking, entry and exit points, led to the crowd gathering and subsequent tragedy. The officers who were at bandobust duty on the occasion exhibited exceptional proactive response in managing and controlling the unexpected crowd and also saved the life of the woman's son and shifted him to a hospital, it said. However, the Commission observed that it fails to understand why the police allowed the crowd, the accused actor, theatre management to gather at the place for the event which did not have the permission. The police should have taken legal action against accused actor, management at the very first occurrence, prior to incident itself, for breaking the law and attending the unlawful events, the Commission said. Observing that the police might have foreseen the present accident, which compelled them to deny permission, the Commission sought an additional report from the police. The police reported to the Commission on July 14, 2025 that permission was granted on December 4, 2024 for the pre-release screening of Pushpa-2 at four theatres at RTC X Roads in the city. The report said police denied permission for the actor's visit to the cinema theatre citing public safety and crowd control concerns. The theatre management was informed in writing and advised to notify the actor and production team accordingly, the police report said. Due to the anticipated large crowd in a densely populated area, it was not possible to control or restrict the public movement prior to the crowd gathering, it said. The report pointed out that despite prior security arrangements by police, an unexpected crowd surge occurred. Officers managed the situation promptly, though legal action at the time was not feasible, it said. Subsequently, on December 5, 2024, a case was registered against the theatre management, actor Allu Arjun, and his security staff. Ten people, including the actor, were arrested. Arjun secured bail in the case. The Commission has considered the report and noted that "there was negligence and lapse in maintaining public order on the part of police authorities in providing adequate assistance and ensure the safety when it was clear that there will be a huge crowd gathering". The Commission issued a show cause notice to the Chief Secretary as to why it should not recommend compensation to the kin of the deceased. It also issued a direction to the city police to ensure fair investigation in the matter. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
6 hours ago
- News18
Theatre stampede: NHRC issues show cause notice to Telangana Chief Secy
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Hyderabad, Aug 6 (PTI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued show cause notice to the Telangana government Chief Secretary as to why it should not recommend a compensation of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the woman, who died in a stampede during the screening of actor Allu Arjun's film Pushpa-2 last year. The action came while dealing with a complaint lodged by advocate Rama Rao Immaneni, who alleged that lathi charge by the police and lack of necessary arrangements when Allu Arjun entered the theatre, resulted in death of the woman Revathi and injuries to her children. Following the Commission's direction, the city police submitted an action taken report on March 3, 2025. During the course of enquiry, it was revealed that permission for the event was rejected and Allu Arjun did not have permission for a road show and that the allegations of lathi charge were false, the report said. The report said arrangements were made for crowd control as professionally done for new movie releases despite the rejection of permission. The inadequate infrastructure at the theatre, including limited parking, entry and exit points, led to the crowd gathering and subsequent tragedy. The officers who were at bandobust duty on the occasion exhibited exceptional proactive response in managing and controlling the unexpected crowd and also saved the life of the woman's son and shifted him to a hospital, it said. However, the Commission observed that it fails to understand why the police allowed the crowd, the accused actor, theatre management to gather at the place for the event which did not have the permission. The police should have taken legal action against accused actor, management at the very first occurrence, prior to incident itself, for breaking the law and attending the unlawful events, the Commission said. Observing that the police might have foreseen the present accident, which compelled them to deny permission, the Commission sought an additional report from the police. The police reported to the Commission on July 14, 2025 that permission was granted on December 4, 2024 for the pre-release screening of Pushpa-2 at four theatres at RTC X Roads in the city. The report said police denied permission for the actor's visit to the cinema theatre citing public safety and crowd control concerns. The theatre management was informed in writing and advised to notify the actor and production team accordingly, the police report said. Due to the anticipated large crowd in a densely populated area, it was not possible to control or restrict the public movement prior to the crowd gathering, it said. The report pointed out that despite prior security arrangements by police, an unexpected crowd surge occurred. Officers managed the situation promptly, though legal action at the time was not feasible, it said. Subsequently, on December 5, 2024, a case was registered against the theatre management, actor Allu Arjun, and his security staff. Ten people, including the actor, were arrested. Arjun secured bail in the case. The Commission has considered the report and noted that 'there was negligence and lapse in maintaining public order on the part of police authorities in providing adequate assistance and ensure the safety when it was clear that there will be a huge crowd gathering". The Commission issued a show cause notice to the Chief Secretary as to why it should not recommend compensation to the kin of the deceased. It also issued a direction to the city police to ensure fair investigation in the matter. PTI SJR VVK SJR KH (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 06, 2025, 22:45 IST News agency-feeds Theatre stampede: NHRC issues show cause notice to Telangana Chief Secy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
