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KTR Alleges Conspiracy Behind FSL Fire, Demands Judicial Probe into Cash-for-Vote Case Evidence Loss
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) has alleged that the recent fire at the Telangana State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Nampally was a deliberate attempt to destroy crucial evidence linked to the long-pending Cash-for-Vote case, in which Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is an accused. He demanded a judicial probe by a retired judge and sought the Centre’s immediate intervention.
Speaking to the media in Hanamkonda, Rama Rao said the incident could not be dismissed as accidental, especially as it occurred when the 11-year-old case was nearing its final stage. He raised concerns over how a highly secured facility functioning under the Home Department—headed by the Chief Minister himself—caught fire under suspicious circumstances.
Rama Rao pointed to several anomalies, including the outbreak of fire during winter, claims that no staff were present despite the lab operating round-the-clock, and the delay of over three hours in controlling the blaze. He also criticised the government for giving contradictory statements regarding the extent of damage.
“Initially, officials claimed minimal loss, but the FIR later revealed that nearly a decade’s worth of evidence dating back to 2015 was destroyed,” he said, adding that around 50 computers and servers containing forensic data related to thousands of criminal cases were gutted.
The BRS leader warned that the loss of evidence could severely impact ongoing prosecutions and allow offenders to escape justice. He also alleged a nexus between the Congress government in Telangana and the BJP-led Centre, questioning why no central agency had intervened so far.
Expressing a lack of faith in the State police, Rama Rao demanded an independent judicial inquiry, an all-party inspection of the FSL site, and full disclosure of facts by the Director General of Police. “Only a transparent and impartial probe can reveal the truth,” he asserted.
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