Appear Personally before June 27, KCR Told by Commission Probing Power Issues

Hyderabad: Former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has been directed to appear personally before the Justice L. Narasimha Reddy Commission inquiring into decisions taken on the power sector in the state during the BRS regime.

According to the notice issued to Rao on June 19, the BRS chief was told that he should present himself before the commission within a week, and to submit evidence to questions asked by the commission in its notice to him. Rao has till June 27 to present himself before the commission.

Notices were also issued for personal appearance and deposition and submission of evidence to former energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy, and a few others.

The one-man commission was appointed by the state government to inquire into alleged irregularities in purchase of power from Chhattisgarh and in setting up of the Yadadri and Bhadradri thermal power plants.

Rao, who in a letter earlier to the commission, questioned its legality and validity, had said that Justice Narasimha Reddy should voluntarily step down. He has also filed a petition in the High Court challenging the commission’s appointment.

Jagadish Reddy, responding to questions from reporters on the issue, said that the BRS was not against any inquiry but was “asking that Justice Narasimha Reddy should not be heading it.”

He said there was no truth in any of the allegations regarding purchase of power or setting up of the two thermal power plants.

“We are confident that Rao will emerge clean from the charges as they are trumped up ones,” he said.