Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy seems to be in no hurry to arrest former CM K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), even though the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission found him responsible for irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).
Revanth’s stand appears to be a political move that could impact Congress either positively or negatively.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Thursday, Revanth downplayed the chances of KCR’s arrest.
“Why arrest him when he has already locked himself up in his Erravalli farmhouse?” Revanth said. “There’s hardly any difference between that and jail; visitors will come, and police surveillance is there in both places.”
His comments come amid increasing demands to hold KCR and other BRS leaders, including former irrigation minister T Harish Rao, accountable for the KLIS irregularities.
Since the Ghose Commission doesn’t have the authority to recommend criminal charges, it asked the state government to take appropriate action.
KCR’s name has also been linked to the phone-tapping case.
Some of the accused reportedly admitted that they carried out the illegal surveillance on orders from a “big boss,” whom both Congress and BJP leaders allege is KCR.
Despite the mounting pressure, Revanth seems to be playing it safe by not pushing for immediate arrest.
Revanth said that KCR has already been convicted in the court of public opinion and is now living his punishment.
Some party leaders believe arresting a senior leader like KCR, who is ageing and frequently unwell, could backfire politically.
“BJP may say we are going soft, but an arrest would be a bigger political gamble,” said a minister.
In short, Revanth Reddy seems to prefer letting public sentiment punish KCR rather than going for legal action; at least for now.
