Hyderabad, November 12, 2025 — The Telangana High Court on Wednesday extended interim protection for BRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), his nephew and former irrigation minister Harish Rao, former Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar Joshi, and senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the execution of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. The interim order, which prevents the state government from taking any adverse action against the petitioners, has now been extended until January 2026.

The matter came up for hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin. Counsel representing the state government requested additional time to file counter-affidavits, prompting the court to adjourn the matter to January while simultaneously maintaining the protection granted to the petitioners.

The controversy stems from the findings of a judicial commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice P.C. Ghose, which was tasked with probing allegations of irregularities and mismanagement in the construction and execution of the Kaleshwaram project during the previous BRS-led government. The commission’s report, submitted earlier this year, was tabled in the state assembly in August 2025. Following discussions in the assembly, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced the government’s decision to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In its report, the commission reportedly held KCR accountable for alleged lapses in the project’s planning and execution. It also identified shortcomings in the management and supervision carried out by Harish Rao during his tenure as irrigation minister. Other senior officials, including Shailendra Kumar Joshi and Smita Sabharwal, were also named in connection with various procedural irregularities highlighted in the investigation.

Challenging the commission’s findings, KCR, Harish Rao, and other senior officials approached the Telangana High Court through a batch of writ petitions, seeking to stay any punitive action by the state government until the matter is finally adjudicated. Earlier, the High Court had granted interim relief, restraining the government from acting against the petitioners, a protection that has now been extended to maintain the status quo until the next hearing.

The Kaleshwaram project, one of the largest lift irrigation schemes in the country, has long been a focal point of political and administrative scrutiny in Telangana. Designed to harness water from the Godavari river to irrigate vast tracts of agricultural land, the project has been lauded for its scale and technical complexity but has also faced allegations of cost overruns, procedural lapses, and financial irregularities. The Ghose commission was established to investigate these concerns thoroughly and provide recommendations to the government.

The ongoing litigation reflects the broader political dynamics in the state, with the BRS leadership challenging the findings and asserting that the commission’s conclusions were flawed or politically motivated. By extending interim protection, the High Court has ensured that no immediate administrative or punitive measures can be enforced against the petitioners, thereby allowing them to participate in the legal process without the risk of coercive action.

As the matter stands, the state government is expected to file detailed counter-affidavits addressing the claims raised by KCR and other petitioners. The High Court’s decision to adjourn the matter to January provides additional time for both parties to prepare their submissions and arguments, while maintaining the protective status quo for the senior officials involved.

Observers note that the High Court’s interim order is significant not only in the context of the ongoing probe but also in safeguarding the principles of natural justice, ensuring that officials named in investigative reports are not prematurely subjected to punitive actions before the courts have an opportunity to examine the merits of the case.

The Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, spanning multiple districts of Telangana, is a cornerstone of the state’s irrigation infrastructure. Its scale, investment, and potential impact on regional agriculture have made it a politically sensitive issue. Allegations of irregularities, particularly in financial management and project execution, have intensified public and media scrutiny, prompting judicial intervention to ensure transparency and accountability.

The extension of interim protection until January is expected to provide KCR, Harish Rao, and other senior officials with temporary legal relief while allowing the CBI-led investigation and subsequent legal proceedings to progress in an orderly manner. The High Court’s careful balancing of the rights of the petitioners and the investigative responsibilities of the state and central authorities underscores the judiciary’s role in maintaining procedural fairness in high-profile cases.

The next hearing in the matter, scheduled for January 2026, is anticipated to be a key juncture in determining the legal course of action regarding the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project. Until then, the interim protection ensures that the petitioners will not face administrative or coercive measures, and that their participation in the legal process remains unhindered.

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