telangana
BRS chief KTR calls for independent probe into alleged Rs 10,000‑crore Singareni scam
BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao demanded a CBI‑led or judicial inquiry into a purported Rs 10,000‑crore fraud at Singareni Collieries Company Limited, accusing the state Congress government of financial mismanagement and hinting at large‑scale coal loss. He warned of intensified agitation, including possible sieges of Congress lawmakers’ residences, if workers’ profit‑share and pending dues are not released.
By IANS ·
What happened
BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao demanded a CBI‑led or judicial inquiry into a purported Rs 10,000‑crore fraud at Singareni Collieries Company Limited, accusing the state Congress government of financial mismanagement and hinting at large‑scale coal loss. He warned of intensified agitation, including possible sieges of Congress lawmakers’ residences, if workers’ profit‑share and pending dues are not released. KTR demands a CBI or judicial probe into a claimed Rs 10,000‑crore Singareni fraud, accuses the state Congress of financial mismanagement, and threatens agitation if workers’ benefits are not released.
TL;DR
KTR demands a CBI or judicial probe into a claimed Rs 10,000‑crore Singareni fraud, accuses the state Congress of financial mismanagement, and threatens agitation if workers’ benefits are not released.
Key points
- KTR called for an independent CBI or judicial investigation into a alleged Rs 10,000‑crore scam at Singareni Collieries Company Limited
- He alleged diversion of Rs 6,317 crore over two financial years and loss of about 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal
- KTR claimed the state government owes nearly Rs 60,000 crore to Singareni and warned of intensified agitation, including sieges of Congress lawmakers’ homes
- He reminded that profit‑share for workers was raised from 16 % to 32 % under the previous KCR government and demanded release of pending benefits
- KTR warned against any move to privatise Singareni, calling it a historic public‑sector institution
Hyderabad – On Wednesday, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) used a public rally in Godavarikhani, Peddapalli district, to demand an independent investigation into what he described as a Rs 10,000‑crore scam at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). Addressing the Singareni Karmika Garjana meeting, KTR alleged that the Congress‑led state government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had fostered corruption through “commission‑driven contracts” and financial mismanagement across several operational areas, including the Naini coal block tenders, site‑visit certificates, opencast mine contracts and machinery procurement.
KTR questioned why the central government had not yet ordered a probe, urging that the Central Bureau of Investigation or a sitting judge take up the case. He cited claims that the cancellation of the Naini tenders had reportedly saved the state Rs 30,000 crore, and asked who stood to benefit from the delayed tender process. According to KTR, the site‑visit certificate system is being misused to favour contractors at the expense of the public‑sector miner.
The BRS leader asserted that the state government had diverted Rs 6,317 crore over two financial years and that roughly 40 lakh metric tonnes of coal were unaccounted for. He called for a comprehensive audit of SCCL’s accounts, demanding full disclosure of coal production, stock and transportation records. KTR also claimed that the Telangana government owed nearly Rs 60,000 crore to Singareni, and warned that delayed payments were hampering the company’s ability to maintain essential mining equipment.
Beyond the alleged financial irregularities, KTR defended Singareni workers, accusing the Congress administration of reneging on promised profit‑sharing benefits. He reminded the audience that the previous KCR government had raised workers’ profit share from 16 percent to 32 percent, and urged the immediate release of the workers’ rightful share, pending bonuses, and other benefits. He also highlighted unresolved issues concerning dependent employment, medical boards and land pattas.
“If the government fails to release the workers’ rightful profit share and bonus, we will lay siege to the residences of Congress MLAs and Ministers,” KTR warned, signalling a readiness for direct action. He further accused both the Telangana Congress government and the BJP‑led central government of neglecting public‑sector interests and warned against any attempts to privatise Singareni, describing the company as built on generations of miners’ sacrifices and essential to Telangana’s economy.
KTR concluded by pledging that the BRS would continue its fight until the corruption allegations are investigated, workers receive their dues, and Singareni’s public‑sector status is secured. He called on miners to unite against policies that threaten their livelihoods and the historic coal‑mining enterprise.