Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Friday demanded an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the alleged disappearance of nearly 40 lakh tonnes of coal worth approximately ₹1,600 crore from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). In a formal letter to Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Rama Rao questioned how such a massive quantity of coal — officially reflected in Singareni's own stock records — could have vanished without any accountability.

The Alleged Scam: What the Records Show

According to KTR, as the BRS leader is widely known, official data on the Singareni website indicated the availability of approximately 40 lakh tonnes of coal across several mines — including Mandamarri, Srirampur, Ramagundam-I, Ramagundam-II, Bhupalpally, Yellandu, and Sathupalli. However, physical verification reportedly revealed that the coal stocks were absent from their designated locations.

KTR alleged that the coal was illegally diverted and sold, causing a loss of nearly ₹1,600 crore to the public sector undertaking. He further pointed out that coal cess and income tax payments were recorded against these stocks, making the physical absence of the coal all the more significant.

Key Demands Raised by BRS

KTR demanded that the Union Government immediately ascertain the whereabouts of the missing coal and take stringent action against those responsible. He also called for a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge into the alleged scam. Additionally, he urged the Centre to dispatch an all-party delegation to the concerned mines and stockyards for on-ground verification, arguing such a visit would expose the scale of alleged irregularities.

He questioned why neither officials from the Union Coal Ministry nor the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had conducted inspections despite the discrepancies being a matter of record.

A Pattern of Alleged Irregularities at Singareni

This is not the first time Singareni has been at the centre of controversy under the current Telangana Congress government. KTR alleged that ever since Chief Minister Revanth Reddy assumed office, SCCL has been mired in a series of scandals — from the Naini coal mine tender controversy, where he alleged conditions such as mandatory site-visit certificates were introduced to favour select bidders, to alleged irregularities in solar power tenders, diesel procurement, explosive purchases, diversion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, and the alleged misuse of Singareni funds for non-core activities.

KTR alleged that despite BRS repeatedly raising these issues, no meaningful action had been taken by either the state or central government. 'The coal of Singareni belongs to the people of Telangana. Both the State and Central Governments are collectively endangering the future of this institution,' he stated.

Political Accusations and Warning of Agitation

KTR accused both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of shielding those allegedly involved in the irregularities. He further alleged that if there is no tacit understanding between Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Union Minister Kishan Reddy, the Centre should have no reason to delay a thorough probe.

'The livelihoods of thousands of Singareni workers and the future of Telangana's most valuable public sector institution are at stake. BRS will not tolerate any attempt to weaken or destroy Singareni through corruption and collusion,' KTR warned.

He cautioned that if the Centre fails to order an investigation, BRS — along with Singareni workers and employees — would launch a large-scale agitation against both the state and central governments. The warning signals an escalation in BRS's opposition strategy ahead of what could become a sustained political campaign centred on the coal PSU.