Seethakka seeks apology from KCR over ‘false’ scam claim

metro india news  I hyderabad

Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Danasari Anasuya Seethakka on Monday issued a legal notice to former Chief Minister and BRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, seeking an unconditional public apology over alleged defamatory statements relating to the distribution of mobile phones to Anganwadi centres.

In the notice sent through her advocate Naguluri Krishna Kumar, the Minister termed the allegations of a Rs 30 crore scam as “false, baseless and made without verification of official records.”

She alleged that the claims were circulated through the BRS’s official social media handles with “malafide intent” to damage her reputation.

The notice called upon K. Chandrasekhar Rao to delete the posts on social media platforms and issue a public apology within 48 hours of receipt of the notice. It warned that failure to comply would compel her to initiate appropriate civil and criminal defamation proceedings.

Refuting the allegations, Seethakka stated that she had no role in the procurement of smartphones. According to the notice, the tender process was handled by Telangana Technology Services Limited, which invited bids and awarded the contract through established procedures.

“A Tender Evaluation Committee consisting of senior government officials evaluated the bids and finalised the contract. My client is not a member of this committee and has no role in awarding the tender,” the notice said.

Through the legal notice, the Minister questioned the basis of the allegations, pointing out that the total value of the tender was about Rs 44 crore.

“When the tender itself is for about Rs.44 crore, it is not understood as to how my client could have indulged in corruption to a tune of Rs.30 crore. Your allegation is prima facie false and absurd,” the notice read.

The notice also alleged that the posts had gained significant traction on social media and were amplified by multiple accounts affiliated with the BRS, causing damage to her public image and credibility.

Later in the day, speaking to the media, Seethakka said she was compelled to initiate legal action as the BRS had been indulging in a sustained “false and malicious campaign” over the issue.

She demanded that KCR take responsibility for the alleged misinformation being circulated by the party’s social media wings, while clarifying that she held no personal animosity against him.

The Minister recalled that she had issued similar legal notices in the past in response to what she described as repeated instances of false propaganda. Referring to the alleged irregularities, she termed the claim of a Rs 30 crore scam in a Rs 44 crore tender as “ridiculous.”

Seethakka maintained that the tendering process was carried out transparently through Telangana Technology Services Limited, in accordance with established procedures. She further alleged that the BRS intensified its campaign against her after she categorically refuted similar allegations made by BRS MLA K.T. Rama Rao on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly.