Hyderabad: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint concerning allegations that BRS leader and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao performed occult rituals to stop rainfall and cause drought in Telangana.
The Commission has directed the Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) C.V. Anand, a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Telangana cadre, to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within four weeks on the matter. The direction was issued on September 9.
Complaint Seeks Action Over Allegations
The complaint was filed before the NHRC by Karupothula Revanth, a Telangana High Court advocate and social activist, on August 22, with Harish Rao’s authorisation.
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According to the complaint, public allegations against Rao had been made since July 31 by persons holding high public offices, including the Chief Minister and a Government Whip.
The allegations claimed that Rao had performed tantric or occult rituals at temples with the intention of preventing rainfall and causing drought. However, the complaint states that no temple records, statements from priests, receipts or other supporting evidence had been made public.
Complaints Allegedly Filed With Police
The complaint further stated that representations were submitted at Osmania University and Vanasthalipuram police stations on August 4, followed by a representation to the DGP’s office on August 17.
According to the complainant, no FIR had been registered and no reasons were communicated for the alleged failure to register a case. The NHRC has now sought an Action Taken Report from the Telangana DGP within four weeks.
Concerns Over Superstition and Human Rights
The complaint also raised concerns about the potential social consequences of publicly linking rainfall and drought to occult practices.
It argued that such statements could promote superstition and potentially encourage accusations of witchcraft against vulnerable groups, including:
- Women and widows
- Elderly persons
- Members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities
The NHRC’s intervention is therefore focused on the complaint concerning the alleged failure to act on the matter and the broader human-rights concerns raised by the complainant.
Allegations Remain Disputed
The allegations against Harish Rao are part of an ongoing political controversy in Telangana. Reports in August carried claims from ruling Congress leaders alleging that Rao had resorted to occult practices, while Rao and the BRS have disputed the allegations.
The NHRC’s direction does not establish the truth of those allegations. The Telangana Police are now required to report the action taken on the complaint to the Commission.
