Hyderabad | September 10, 2026
The National Human Rights Commission has directed the Telangana director general of police to take action over public allegations that BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao performed black magic or occult rituals, and has sought an action taken report within four weeks.
The direction followed a complaint filed by Telangana High Court advocate Karupothula Revanth, who alleged that police failed to register a first information report over the statements. The complaint was filed before the NHRC after allegations were made publicly by people holding high public offices, including the chief minister and a government whip, according to a report by the Times of India.
The allegations, said to have been made repeatedly since July 31, linked Rao to tantric or occult rituals at temples intended to stop rainfall and cause drought. The complaint stated that no temple records, statements from priests, receipts or other supporting evidence had been made public.
According to the complaint, representations were submitted at the Osmania University and Vanasthalipuram police stations on August 4. A further representation was made at the DGP’s office on August 17. The complainant said that no FIR had been registered and that no reasons had been communicated for the police response.
The NHRC’s direction requires the Telangana DGP to report the action taken within four weeks. The report did not specify whether the commission has directed that a particular FIR be registered, or what specific action the police must take against those who made the allegations.
The complaint also raised concerns about the possible public consequences of statements linking rainfall or drought to occult practices. It said that allegations made by people in high constitutional and political positions could promote superstition and encourage accusations of witchcraft, particularly in rural areas.
It warned that such accusations could expose women, widows, elderly people and members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to attacks. The complaint therefore framed the issue not only as a question of alleged police inaction, but also as a human-rights concern involving the public use of unsubstantiated claims.
Revanth said that ordinary citizens would face immediate police action if they made similar allegations, while people in positions of power had not faced comparable action. He said this difference was the reason for approaching the NHRC.
The Telangana DGP’s action taken report is now the next formal step identified in the case. The report did not include a response from the DGP, the chief minister’s office, the government whip or Harish Rao on the NHRC direction or the allegations.
