Kota Neelima of Telangana Congress Calls for Judicial Inquiry into Whistleblower Murthy's Murder

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Kota Neelima of Telangana Congress Calls for Judicial Inquiry into Whistleblower Murthy's Murder

Synopsis

Telangana Congress leader Kota Neelima demands a judicial probe into the murder of whistleblower Rajalinga Murthy, who raised corruption allegations about the Kaleshwaram project during the BRS government. The incident has sparked political controversy and accusations against BRS leaders, as Murthy's widow blames them for his death.

Key Takeaways

  • Kota Neelima seeks a judicial investigation into the murder.
  • Rajalinga Murthy was known for exposing corruption in the Kaleshwaram project.
  • His death occurred just before a significant court hearing.
  • Political ramifications include accusations against BRS leaders.
  • The incident has fueled ongoing political tensions ahead of elections.

Hyderabad, Feb 20 (NationPress) Telangana Congress leader Kota Neelima has called for a judicial investigation into the assassination of Rajalinga Murthy, a whistleblower who lodged a complaint regarding alleged corruption in the Kaleshwaram project during the tenure of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

The general secretary of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) emphasized that this incident is far from an ordinary murder.

“This cruel and enigmatic murder of a whistleblower who exposed irregularities in the Rs 1.2 lakh crore Kaleshwaram project is alarming. Rajalinga Murthy had accused the former CM KCR and the then Irrigation Minister Harish Rao. He was murdered just a day before a hearing in the High Court,” she stated on ‘X’.

“I demand a Judicial Probe to uncover the details surrounding this murder and to bring the true perpetrators to light,” Neelima, who also holds a position in the AICC, asserted.

Murthy was brutally killed by unknown assailants on a Wednesday night in Bhupalapally town, located in the Jayashankar Bhupalapally district.

His spouse, Sarla, a former municipal councillor of Bhupalapally, has accused BRS leaders of being behind the murder.

In October 2023, Murthy had filed a case at the Bhupalapally police station, seeking to register an FIR against former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), then Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, and others after a couple of piers of the Medigadda barrage, part of the Kaleshwaram project, had collapsed.

After the police declined to file an FIR, Murthy sought help from the local magistrate court, which dismissed his request. He then approached the Principal Sessions Court in Bhupalapally, which issued notices to KCR, Harish Rao, and others. However, the Telangana High Court intervened and granted a stay.

The collapse of the Medigadda piers ignited a political scandal, with opposition parties blaming the former BRS government for the incident, citing alleged corruption, flawed designs, and substandard work on the project, which is marketed as the world’s largest lift irrigation initiative.

Both Congress and BJP highlighted this issue during the November 2023 Assembly elections. Prominent Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with the current Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, visited the barrage as part of their campaign.

Meanwhile, BRS leader and former MLA Gandra Venkat Ramana Reddy denied any involvement in Murthy's murder on Thursday.

He labeled the accusations against him as unfounded and accused the Congress party of trying to frame BRS in this matter.

Venkat Ramana Reddy responded to claims made by the victim's family and leaders from the ruling party.

“Certain Congress leaders are calling for a CB CID inquiry. We are open to a CBI inquiry if the government mandates it,” he mentioned.

The former MLA further claimed that Rajalinga Murthy was involved in numerous land disputes and had a rowdysheet opened against him.