Hyderabad, Feb 8 (NationPress) K.T. Rama Rao, the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has called for a judicial inquiry into the fire that occurred at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Hyderabad on Saturday. He has accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of orchestrating a deliberate conspiracy to obliterate critical evidence related to the long-standing “vote-for-note” scandal.

Speaking to the press in Hanmakonda during a campaign for municipal elections, Rao suggested that the incident appeared to be a carefully crafted plan aimed at permanently erasing forensic evidence as the case neared a verdict.

KTR, as he is widely known, pointed out alarming details surrounding the fire, highlighting that it occurred in a supposedly secure location during winter, the absence of staff in a laboratory meant to be operational 24/7, and the government’s inconsistent statements regarding the damage.

“Initially, officials claimed the damage was minimal. However, an FIR later disclosed that a decade's worth of evidence dating back to 2015 was entirely destroyed. This drastic change only amplifies suspicions of a conspiracy,” he stated.

He questioned why it took over three and a half hours to extinguish the fire when it was reportedly limited to the first floor. According to him, numerous computers, servers, and digital records were lost, resulting in the destruction of vital forensic data.

KTR expressed deep concern that evidence pertaining to thousands of serious criminal cases may have been lost, potentially allowing dangerous criminals to evade justice. “This situation transcends a single political issue; it directly impacts public safety and the integrity of our criminal justice system,” he asserted.

The BRS leader accused the Chief Minister of acting with implicit backing from powerful individuals in Delhi, insisting that this aspect deserves thorough investigation. He called on the Union government to intervene and mandate an impartial, high-level inquiry by its leading agencies.

Moreover, he urged the appointment of a retired judge to lead an independent judicial inquiry into the fire and the alleged destruction of evidence.

Expressing skepticism about the state police's capabilities, KTR claimed that parts of the force operate like the Chief Minister’s “private army.” He challenged the Director General of Police to disclose all facts to the public, should the department be genuinely independent.

Finally, he demanded that an all-party delegation be allowed to inspect the FSL facility and that forensic scientists provide political representatives with insights on the fire's circumstances and the extent of the damage.