THANNEERU HARISH RAO Vs. STATE OF TELANGANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr. C.A.Sundaram, learned Senior Counsel appears for Mr. Jaggannagari Venkat Sai, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.No.24835 of 2025. Mr. Dama Seshadri Naidu, learned Senior Counsel appears for Mr. Ponugoti Mohith Rao, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.No.24837 of 2025. Mr. Tarun G. Reddy, learned counsel appears for the petitioner in W.P.No.26367 of 2025. Mr. J.Ramachandra Rao, learned Senior Counsel appears for Mr. Jagannagari Venkat Sai, learned counsel for the petitioner in W.P.No.29352 of 2025. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, learned Senior Counsel appears for the State in W.P.No.24835 of 2025. Mr. S.Niranjan Reddy, learned Senior Counsel, along with Mr. A.Sudarshan Reddy, learned Advocate General duly assisted by Mr. I.V.Siddhivardhana, learned Special Government Pleader appears for the State in W.P.Nos.24837 and 26367 of 2025. Mr. P.Sri Raghu Ram, learned Senior Counsel appears for the State in W.P.No.29352 of 2025.

(2.) A Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, Former Judge of Supreme Court of India, was appointed in exercise of powers conferred by Sec. 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (hereinafter referred to as 'Act of 1952'), to conduct judicial inquiry on certain allegations of irregularities and embezzlement of public funds by corrupt practices in constructing the barrages of Medigadda and Annaram Reservoirs of Kaleshwaram Project, on the Terms of Reference contained therein. The Commission was conferred with the powers under sub-Sec. (2), (3), (4) and (5) of Sec. 5 of the Act of 1952. The Commission, after examination of several witnesses and documents, submitted its Report on 31/7/2025. The writ petitioners being aggrieved by the findings preferred the present writ petitions.

(3.) The petitioner (THR) in writ petition No.24835 of 2025 is the former Minister for Irrigation in the erstwhile Telangana Government.