High Court Grants Reprieve to KCR and Harish Rao in Kaleshwaram Case
In a significant development, the Telangana High Court has prolonged the interim legal protection granted to former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his nephew, former minister Harish Rao, concerning the ongoing investigation into the Kaleshwaram irrigation project. The court has also deferred the hearing of the case, providing a substantial timeline for the legal proceedings.
Case Adjourned to 2026, Interim Relief Continues
While deliberating on the matter, the bench decided to post the next hearing to January 2026. Alongside this adjournment, the court extended the interim protection previously granted to the key figures involved. This protective order, which also encompasses other individuals named in the case, shields them from potential coercive action by investigative agencies while the legal process is underway.
Background and Implications of the Legal Shield
The interim protection is a standard legal provision that prevents the arrest or other immediate legal actions against the accused, allowing them to participate in the judicial process without the threat of detention. The Kaleshwaram project probe has been a subject of intense political and public scrutiny, with allegations of irregularities in the planning and execution of the massive lift irrigation scheme. The extension of this legal safeguard ensures that KCR, Harish Rao, and the other respondents, identified as Joshi and Sabharwal, will remain protected from arrest until the case is taken up again by the court in the new year of 2026.
The decision, reported on 12 November 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the long-drawn legal battle surrounding the project. It underscores the complexity of the case and the judiciary's methodical approach to ensuring a fair trial for all parties involved. The next hearing date now lies over a year away, setting the stage for the next phase of this high-profile investigation.
