Shortly after the Congress government assumed control in Telangana, an incident emerged involving damaged and missing government files in the Animal Husbandry department, a development that the ruling government has blamed on the aides of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former Animal Husbandry Minister, Talasani Srinivas Yadav.

Talasani Srinivas Yadav’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Kalyan Kumar and four others were booked based on a complaint filed by a vigilant security guard at the department, reported The Indian Express.

According to the security guard’s statement to the police, he witnessed Kalyan Kumar, along with computer operators Mohan and Elija, and attendants Venkatesh and Prashanth in the office during the incident. The damaged files were discovered during a routine check, raising suspicions as some security cameras in the department were also found to be broken. Kalyan Kumar, denying any involvement, claims he is being framed for political reasons and has sought anticipatory bail from the Telangana High Court, the report said.

Sources revealed that the destroyed and “some stolen” files were related to the procurement of fodder for cattle. A Congress leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Indian Express, “Imagine the scale of corruption that they were in such a hurry to destroy files which would expose their malpractices.”

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BRS insiders, however, refused any connection between Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav and the incident. A party leader asserted, “If the minister had to hide something, he could have taken the files while vacating the office. He has nothing to do with it (the incident).”

The roots of the political rivalry between Yadav and Reddy trace back to their days in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Despite never having a public fallout, Yadav, being senior to CM, was reportedly uneasy with Reddy’s quick rise in the party. Their uneasy equation persisted during the recent Assembly election campaign, marked by verbal sparring and controversies.

The alleged disappearance of files poses potential political ramifications for the BRS. While the investigation is in its initial stages, any alleged irregularities could provide the Congress and the BJP with an opportunity to capitalise on the situation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.