The political temperature in Telangana rose sharply on January 20 after K. T. Rama Rao issued a stern warning to police officers, alleging that law enforcement was being misused for political purposes by the Congress government led by A. Revanth Reddy.

Addressing the media in Hyderabad, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president accused certain officers of filing what he termed “illegal and fabricated cases” against BRS leaders. He cautioned that such officers would be held accountable if the BRS returns to power, adding that retirement would not shield them from action. Rama Rao also reacted strongly to remarks allegedly made by some officers invoking the Emergency period, saying such statements reflected misuse of authority.

The BRS leader linked the latest Special Investigation Team (SIT) notice issued to senior party leader T. Harish Rao in the phone-tapping case to what he described as political retaliation. He claimed the notice was served soon after Harish Rao raised allegations related to a coal scam involving the Chief Minister’s brother-in-law.

Rama Rao questioned why, despite the Supreme Court of India stating earlier that no phone tapping had taken place in Telangana, notices were still being issued. He said the BRS would continue to challenge the government, irrespective of the number of cases or notices filed.

Alleging irregularities in Singareni Collieries tenders, Rama Rao claimed that the Chief Minister’s family had undue influence over multiple contracts. He alleged that bidding norms were altered to favour select players and accused Srujan Reddy, Revanth Reddy’s brother-in-law, of intimidation and interference in the tendering process claims he said remain unanswered by the government and company officials.

The BRS leader also mocked the Chief Minister’s reported enrolment in a leadership programme at Harvard University, questioning what Revanth Reddy would gain from the course given his frequent remarks about not knowing English.

KTR’s remarks signal an escalation in the BRS Congress confrontation, with policing and investigative agencies emerging as a central flashpoint. Such accusations deepen mistrust between political rivals and risk dragging institutions into partisan battles. As Telangana heads into an intense political phase, repeated claims of vendetta politics could further polarise public discourse and place additional scrutiny on the independence of investigative processes.