N Kiran Kumar Reddy dares those accusing him of corruption to go to court

HYDERABAD: Reacting sharply to allegations by some of his party colleagues that he received kickbacks for clearing files and awarding high-value contracts, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today dared them to approach the court.

"When you are making an allegation, you should either have proof or at least point out any illegality. Let anyone go to the court," Kiran said angrily when reporters asked him about allegations by some senior Congress leaders from Telangana.

Congress MPs Palvai Govardhan Reddy, V Hanumantha Rao and former minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy are among those who have levelled such allegations in the last few days.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti even said it would initiate a probe into all such files cleared by Kiran Kumar and put him behind the bars.

Lok Satta Party president N Jayaprakash Narayan too made similar allegations, but did not name anyone.

Replying to questions in this regard, the Chief Minister said hundreds of files land in his office. "They all are not connected to contracts but many other things," he said.

"Good that the media stopped writing stories in the last one and a half years that I am not clearing files and keeping them pending," he said.

Referring to the drinking water supply project in his native Chittoor district, against which the TRS filed a petition in the high court, he said, "Can't we give water to Chittoor? When we are spending Rs 38,000 crore on Pranahita-Chevella multi-purpose project in Telangana, can't we spend Rs 5,000 crore for the Chittoor water project?"