KTR Demands Probe Into Alleged Rs 1600 Crore Singareni Coal Scam

HYDERABAD — BRS working president KT Rama Rao has demanded an immediate investigation into the alleged disappearance of nearly 40 lakh metric tons of coal worth approximately ₹1,600 crore from Singareni Collieries Company Limited mines across Mandamarri, Srirampur, Ramagundam, Bhupalpally, Yellandu, and Sathupalli.

In a letter addressed to Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday, Rama Rao questioned how the massive quantity of coal officially shown in the stock records of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) could vanish without accountability. He alleged that the coal, which should have been stored in stockyards, was illegally diverted and sold.

According to Rama Rao, official records indicated the availability of approximately 40 lakh metric tons of coal across multiple mines, including Mandamarri, Srirampur, Ramagundam-I, Ramagundam-II, Bhupalpally, Yellandu, and Sathupalli. However, he claimed that physical verifications revealed the coal stocks were missing from these designated locations.

Rama Rao pointed out that although records showed payment of coal cess and income tax on these stocks, the physical coal was absent on the ground. He questioned why officials from the Union Coal Ministry or the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had not conducted inspections to address this discrepancy.

To ensure transparency, the BRS leader called on the Centre to send an all-party delegation to the affected mines and stockyards for on-ground verification. He also demanded a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting judge into the alleged ₹1,600 crore scam.

Additionally, the BRS working president criticized the Congress-led state government, claiming that Singareni has faced multiple scandals, including the Naini coal mine tender controversy, since the party assumed office in Telangana. He alleged that tender conditions were manipulated to favour select bidders and accused both Congress and the BJP of protecting those involved in these irregularities.