Revanth said KTR's business partner Kedar had died of a drug cocktail in Dubai and that he possessed the forensic report to prove the allegation.
Published Jul 18, 2025 | 11:55 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 18, 2025 | 11:55 AM
Revanth Reddy and KT Rama Rao.
Synopsis: BRS Working President KT Rama Rao warned of initiating a legal case after Chief Minister Revanth Reddy accused him of being surrounded by individuals involved in narcotics deals. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Revanth said he will enter into a debate only with K Chandrashekar Rao, and not KTR, since the latter is his junior.
A truce looked distant on Thursday, 17 July, as Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) continued engaging in a war of words over a drug-related death in Dubai.
Revanth of the Congress fired the first salvo, saying KTR’s business partner Kedar had died of a drug cocktail in Dubai and that he possessed the forensic report to prove the allegation.
The chief minister made the statement during an informal chat with the media in New Delhi.
KTR hit back, saying he would resort to legal recourse if the chief minister did not apologise for his “slanderous remark”.
Movie producer and entrepreneur Kedar Selagamsetty, 42, was found dead in his Dubai apartment on 25 February 2025.
Speaking to reporters, Revanth expressed willingness to place the forensic report on Kedar’s death in the Assembly for a discussion. The chief minister accused KTR of hypocrisy, pointing out that despite earlier bravado about being open to a drug test, he later secured a stay from a court to avoid it.
“He talks big but backs down when it matters. That’s cowardice,” Reddy remarked.
Reddy also alleged that KTR’s brother-in-law had been caught with drugs, arguing this was further proof that KTR surrounds himself with individuals involved in substance abuse.
“He keeps throwing challenges, but I’m not one to be intimidated,” Reddy said.
He went on to question KTR’s “secret” late-night meetings with Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh. “Why did KTR meet Lokesh for a midnight dinner? What was the agenda?” he asked.
Revanth also accused Union Minister G Kishan Reddy of shielding former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and reiterated his government’s commitment to Telangana’s development in collaboration with the Centre.
The chief minister challenged BRS president KCR for an open debate in the Assembly, stating that he would not engage directly with KTR, whom he described as his “junior”. “Let KCR come to the Assembly and face me,” he dared.
Reiterating his administration’s policy of conciliation with the Centre, Revanth contrasted it with what he called the BRS’s confrontational approach. He accused the BRS of internal disarray, claiming that no leader within the party listens to another.
“KTR has been lobbying with his father, KCR, to be named the Leader of the Opposition, but KCR is reluctant. Even KTR’s sister, Kavitha, doesn’t accept his leadership. If his own family doesn’t believe in him, why should the people?” he asked.
On the ongoing investigations into alleged scams during the BRS regime, Revanth said that the law would take its course. “The investigation must reach a logical stage before the agencies can act. Villains get punished only at the climax of the movie, right?” he quipped.
The chief minister accused KCR of betraying Telangana by allowing Andhra Pradesh to divert Krishna River water. He claimed that under the BRS government, Andhra Pradesh had illegally taken 1,200 TMC ft of Krishna water.
“Why is the BRS targeting me for holding talks with Naidu? Didn’t KCR also meet with the then Andhra Pradesh chief minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy? If it was right then, how can it be wrong now?” he asked.
“Can interstate river disputes be resolved without dialogue? Would they, if you rest at your farmhouse instead?” he added, taking a dig at the BRS leadership. KCR has been confined to his farmhouse ever since his party’s Assembly election defeat.
Revanth slammed BRS leader T Harish Rao’s remarks questioning his authority, saying, “Is Telangana their family jagir? I’m asking Harish Rao the same question: does it belong to him and his uncle KCR?”
In a strong rebuttal to Revanth’s outbursts, KTR dismissed his allegations as “baseless and vulgar,” accusing him of stooping to character assassination to deflect public scrutiny of his failures.
“The filth Revanth Reddy spews in the name of media chit-chats has long crossed all lines of decency. Until now, I exercised restraint out of respect for the CM’s office. But do you even have an iota of proof? Is there any case registered?” He warned of legal consequences, saying, “Revanth Reddy, I will drag you to court and make you pay for every slanderous remark. Apologise or face the consequences,” KTR said on X.
KTR further alleged that Revanth lacked the courage to make these statements on record, preferring off-the-record chats with media persons to avoid legal repercussions. Harish Rao backed KTR, accusing the Congress government of deflecting from core issues like the Banakacherla project and alleging that they were illegally tapping the phones of BRS leaders.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
