Barely a year into his term as Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy finds himself grappling with serious corruption allegations under the AMRUT 2.0 (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme. The accusations have been levelled by none other than KT Rama Rao (KTR), the working president of the opposition BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi), who claims that contracts worth thousands of crores were unlawfully awarded to companies connected to Revanth’s family members. These allegations could potentially escalate into a political crisis that may define Revanth’s future.
The timing of KTR’s allegations has raised eyebrows. Just days prior, the Telangana government signalled its intent to prosecute KTR over the alleged misuse of funds during the Hyderabad F1 race event. Reports suggest that KTR instructed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to pay Rs 55 crore to the event organizers without seeking the necessary cabinet approval. The state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has already investigated the matter, with the HMDA chief reportedly admitting to making the payments under KTR’s directives. This could potentially lead to his summons or even arrest.
In what many see as a counter-offensive, KTR came out swinging with accusations of his own, specifically targeting Sujan Reddy, the brother-in-law of Revanth Reddy. According to KTR, Sujan Reddy’s company, Shodha Infrastructure Limited, was awarded a contract worth Rs 1,137 crore despite lacking the required financial stability and technical expertise. “The allotment of these contracts raises serious questions about violations of the tendering process and possible favouritism,” KTR alleged during a press conference in national capital.
KTR’s memorandum, submitted to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Mohan Lal Khattar, calls for an in-depth probe into the AMRUT 2.0 tender allotments, which collectively total Rs 8,888.51 crore. The primary focus is on Shodha Infrastructure, which reportedly declared a profit of only Rs 2.2 crore for the fiscal year 2021-22, raising concerns about its financial capacity to handle projects of such magnitude.
The tender arrangement, as per KTR, was structured such that Shodha Infrastructure would execute 80% of the work, while Indian Hume Pipe Co. Ltd would complete the remaining 20%. This has fuelled suspicions about the integrity of the process. “How can a company with such a modest financial record take on a project worth over a thousand crores? Was this a strategic decision by Indian Hume Pipe to outsource most of its work to an unqualified firm, or is there more to this than meets the eye?” KTR questioned.
KTR further argued that awarding the contract to Shodha Infrastructure is not only a breach of ethical guidelines but also a violation of Article 191(1) of the Indian Constitution. This provision prohibits public representatives and their immediate family from engaging in business dealings with the government. “If the Chief Minister himself is implicated, who will blow the whistle?” KTR wrote in his letter to the Union Minister, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Drawing parallels with past political controversies, KTR likened the alleged corruption to the office-of-profit case against Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who faced legal action for similar offenses. He also referenced the 2014 Ashok Khemka vs. State of Haryana case involving Robert Vadra and the Mysuru Urban Development Authority scandal, where land was allegedly allotted to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s wife.
Facing the heat, Revanth Reddy has publicly welcomed a probe, asserting his innocence. However, his confidence may not resonate well within his own party. Discontent simmers among senior Congress leaders in Telangana who were overlooked when Revanth, a former TDP leader, was appointed as state president. The murmurs of dissent suggest that certain factions within the party may see this scandal as an opportunity to challenge Revanth’s leadership.
Speculation is rife that the Congress high command in Delhi may consider replacing him if the controversy intensifies. The names of the current Deputy Chief Minister and a former state party chief are already being floated as potential successors. For Revanth, the allegations couldn’t have come at a worse time, with internal rivalries potentially undermining his position even further.
As the spotlight intensifies, the ball is now in the Union government’s court. Will they order an investigation into the AMRUT 2.0 contracts, as demanded by KTR, or will they hold off until the upcoming assembly elections in other states conclude? The stakes are high, not just for Revanth Reddy, but for the Congress party, which recently made a comeback in Karnataka under Siddaramaiah. A scandal of this magnitude could derail Congress’s momentum in Telangana.
For now, the political theatre continues, with KTR’s accusations throwing a spotlight on potential graft and governance failures in Telangana. Whether the AMRUT allegations will indeed become Revanth Reddy’s Waterloo remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Telangana’s political landscape is set for a tumultuous ride.
