The killing of a whistleblower in Telangana revives scrutiny of KCR’s rule and the murky politics of the Kaleshwaram project.
The murder of Nagavelli Rajalingamurthy in Telangana’s Jayashankar Bhupalpally town has sent political shockwaves across the state. A little-known activist, Rajalingamurthy had filed a complaint in 2023 against former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and his nephew, T. Harish Rao, alleging large-scale corruption in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. His sudden and brutal killing has sparked accusations that it was an assassination designed to silence a whistleblower. The ruling Congress government has openly pointed fingers at the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), while the police maintain that his death resulted from a personal land dispute. Whatever the truth, his murder has cast a shadow over Telangana’s largest infrastructure project, reinforcing suspicions that the rot of corruption runs deep.
The Kaleshwaram project, once hailed as the world’s largest lift irrigation scheme, was supposed to be the crown jewel of KCR’s administration. The project was a symbol of Telangana’s rise as an independent state after its separation from Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Launched with much fanfare, the Rs. 1.2 lakh crore ($14.4 billion) initiative promised to transform Telangana’s agrarian economy by supplying water to drought-prone areas. Instead, it has become a symbol of mismanagement, poor engineering, and alleged financial irregularities. Last year, a section of the Medigadda barrage, the centrepiece of the project, sank, raising concerns over faulty construction and prompting an inquiry into how public money was spent.
Rajalingamurthy was among those who sought legal intervention. When police refused to register an FIR, he approached a local court, which directed that his petition be considered. But BRS leaders swiftly acted to neutralize the legal threat, securing a stay from the Telangana High Court in December 2023. That did not deter Rajalingamurthy, who continued to speak out, earning powerful enemies in the process.
On the night of February 19, two assailants attacked Rajalingamurthy while he was riding his motorcycle, hitting him with an iron rod and fatally stabbing him. He died en route to the hospital. While the police initially dismissed political motives, the victim’s wife, Sarala, has claimed otherwise. She alleges that just days before his murder, her husband was threatened and offered Rs. 10 lakh to withdraw his corruption complaint against KCR. The Congress, quick to seize the opportunity, has echoed these claims, with state ministers accusing the BRS of orchestrating the killing to cover up its alleged financial crimes.
For its part, the BRS has denied any involvement, arguing that the murder stemmed from a land dispute. Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, a former BRS MLA whom the victim’s family has implicated, has refuted the allegations, insisting that Congress is politicizing the tragedy. The police have registered cases against four individuals based on Sarala’s complaint but have yet to establish a political link.
Telangana has seen its share of political vendettas. The Congress’s accusations against the BRS follow a familiar script, one that KCR himself used when he was in power. The BRS, now in opposition, claims it is being unfairly targeted. Yet the party has provided little clarity on the corruption allegations against it. The Medigadda barrage collapse remains a damning indictment of its governance, and the Congress-led government’s inquiry into the project’s irregularities is expected to reveal more in the coming weeks.
For now, the murder of Rajalingamurthy remains unresolved. If it was indeed a politically motivated assassination, it would not be the first time a whistleblower has been silenced in India. Either way, the ruling Congress must ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. The Kaleshwaram project deserves scrutiny, and those responsible for any wrongdoing must be held accountable. If the BRS has nothing to hide, it should welcome the probe. Until then, suspicions will linger, and so will the fear that in Telangana, those who challenge the powerful do so at great personal risk.
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