RS Praveen Kumar Alleges Rs 2041 Crore Scam In Telangana School Supplies

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) General Secretary RS Praveen Kumar on Saturday alleged a Rs 2,041 crore scam in the procurement of commodities for residential schools in Telangana. Speaking at a press conference, Kumar challenged SC and ST Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman to an open debate on the issue at the Press Club in Somajiguda, Hyderabad, on July 2, 2026.

Kumar raised serious safety concerns, alleging that Niranjan Jain, a contractor selected to supply trunk boxes to the schools, has past links to drug peddling. Citing previous statements by City Police Commissioner CV Anand, Kumar claimed that Jain owned multiple businesses and had allegedly approached drug peddlers nearly 30 times. He questioned how the government could guarantee that drugs would not reach school children under the guise of supplying trunk boxes.

The BRS leader also questioned the procurement process, criticizing the decision to award a fabric supply contract to Rajesh Agarwal instead of the Telangana State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (TSCO), which is meant to support local weavers. He further questioned why the Telangana Leather Corporation was tasked with supplying stationery, ID cards, ties, and belts.

According to Kumar, financial meetings regarding these contracts were being held in star hotels, keeping key cabinet ministers in the dark. He claimed that draft government orders were issued immediately after these meetings and signed solely by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, without being shared with the respective ministers.

Kumar alleged that tender specifications were deliberately modified to favor specific firms linked to individuals like Jaiveer Reddy, Niranjan Jain, and Mafatlal. He demanded an inquiry into their alleged nexus with the state government.

Minister Adluri Laxman dismissed the claims, stating that the government had only floated tenders worth Rs 674 crore. In response to the dismissal, Kumar confirmed he would be at the Somajiguda Press Club at 11 a.m. on July 2 to present his evidence.

Additionally, Kumar highlighted that students in residential schools had still not received uniforms, utensils, school bags, bed sheets, towels, or trunk boxes, despite the academic year starting 26 days prior. He contrasted this with the previous BRS government's tenure, where procurement was planned in January and February with priority given to local Telangana contractors.