KCR reaches BRKR Bhavan for Kaleshwaram cross-examination amid heavy security

Hyderabad: Bracing for a day of intense scrutiny, former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao reached BRKR Bhavan at 11 AM on Wednesday to face the Kaleshwaram Commission’s cross-examination a first in the state’s history for a former CM.

The atmosphere outside the building crackled with tension as hundreds of BRS supporters gathered, hoping to catch a glimpse of their leader. Police, anticipating the rush, rolled out tight security, cordoning off a 200-metre stretch around the Bhavan with barricades to manage the swelling crowds.

Inside, the mood was equally charged. Only nine individuals were permitted to accompany KCR, a sign of the commission’s controlled approach to a case that has gripped Telangana’s political landscape. Justice P.C. Ghose, leading the probe, is expected to press KCR on key decisions taken during the planning and execution of the Kaleshwaram irrigation project a venture now under intense scrutiny after a string of structural failures at several barrages.

In the days leading up to the hearing, KCR had reportedly delved deep into the project’s files, holding lengthy discussions with his then irrigation minister T. Harish Rao. He also consulted with top irrigation officials to pull together the documentation and evidence he believes will back his government’s record.

As he took his seat before the commission, KCR faced not just a legal battle but also the political glare of a state watching every move.