By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Feb 27: The principal special judge for Anti-Corruption Bureau cases on Friday directed the ACB director-general to investigate the allegations made against the Chief Minister and others in connection with irregularities in calling tenders for the Yellampalli irrigation project.
The judge, Mr N Sanyasi Rao, was dealing with a criminal complaint filed by Mr V. Srinivas Rao, an advocate. He forwarded the complaint to the ACB with a direction to investigate and report to the court on March 26.
The complainant alleged that the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the irrigation minister, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, and irrigation department officials had colluded to obtain undue favour to the joint venture of the IVRC-Navayuga-SEWInfrastructure Ltd during the process of estimates, tenders and execution under the Sripadasagar (Yellampalli) Project.
Mr Srinivas Rao alleged that there was a criminal conspiracy to usurp public funds by inflating tender estimates for the Sripadasagar (Yellampalli) irrigation project.
Mr Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, counsel for the complainant, cited directives of the apex court and said that the accused were liable for punishment under IPC and the Prevention of Anti Corruption Act. Mr Kumar is also chief of the Telugu Desam legal cell.
The ACB director-general, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, said, “We have not received the court orders so far.” He said he will have to examine the orders before going ahead.
The Telugu Desam is expected to use the case to counter the Congress’ campaign that Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu has no right to talk about corruption as he was not allowing an ACB probe into an alleged Rs 500-crore liquor scam.
Mr Naidu has obtained a stay from the Supreme Court on a 2003 complaint in a local court alleging that Mr Naidu and 17 others in the then TD government were involved in paying Rs 500 crore more while procuring liquor for the AP Beverages Corporation between 1997 and 2000.
“We will lose the edge over Mr Naidu if we too obtain a stay,” sources close to the Chief Minister said. Sources said the Chief Minister would allow the law to take its course. His team wants to challenge Mr Naidu to allow a probe into the liquor scam.
The ACB will call for files and take experts’ assistance to verify the genuinness of the complaint. “It is nothing but a full fledged investigation because we should be satisfied with the procedure of awarding the contract first,” a senior ACB official said.
Mr Naidu has faced other cases as well:Last year, Mr G. Janardhan Reddy, chairman of Brahmani Steels and Obulapuram Mining Company, filed a defamation suit against Mr Naidu for certain remarks. Mr Reddy is also a BJP minister in Karnataka. Mr Naidu secured a stay from the AP High Court.
Mr Y.V. Subba Reddy, MD of Sree Swarna Energy Limited, and relative of the Chief Minister, slapped a legal notice for Rs 69.18 crore on Mr Naidu and Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, for their protests against his company’s 3-MW power project.
Hyderabad, Feb 27: The principal special judge for Anti-Corruption Bureau cases on Friday directed the ACB director-general to investigate the allegations made against the Chief Minister and others in connection with irregularities in calling tenders for the Yellampalli irrigation project.
The judge, Mr N Sanyasi Rao, was dealing with a criminal complaint filed by Mr V. Srinivas Rao, an advocate. He forwarded the complaint to the ACB with a direction to investigate and report to the court on March 26.
The complainant alleged that the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the irrigation minister, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah, and irrigation department officials had colluded to obtain undue favour to the joint venture of the IVRC-Navayuga-SEWInfrastructure Ltd during the process of estimates, tenders and execution under the Sripadasagar (Yellampalli) Project.
Mr Srinivas Rao alleged that there was a criminal conspiracy to usurp public funds by inflating tender estimates for the Sripadasagar (Yellampalli) irrigation project.
Mr Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, counsel for the complainant, cited directives of the apex court and said that the accused were liable for punishment under IPC and the Prevention of Anti Corruption Act. Mr Kumar is also chief of the Telugu Desam legal cell.
The ACB director-general, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, said, “We have not received the court orders so far.” He said he will have to examine the orders before going ahead.
The Telugu Desam is expected to use the case to counter the Congress’ campaign that Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu has no right to talk about corruption as he was not allowing an ACB probe into an alleged Rs 500-crore liquor scam.
Mr Naidu has obtained a stay from the Supreme Court on a 2003 complaint in a local court alleging that Mr Naidu and 17 others in the then TD government were involved in paying Rs 500 crore more while procuring liquor for the AP Beverages Corporation between 1997 and 2000.
“We will lose the edge over Mr Naidu if we too obtain a stay,” sources close to the Chief Minister said. Sources said the Chief Minister would allow the law to take its course. His team wants to challenge Mr Naidu to allow a probe into the liquor scam.
The ACB will call for files and take experts’ assistance to verify the genuinness of the complaint. “It is nothing but a full fledged investigation because we should be satisfied with the procedure of awarding the contract first,” a senior ACB official said.
Mr Naidu has faced other cases as well:Last year, Mr G. Janardhan Reddy, chairman of Brahmani Steels and Obulapuram Mining Company, filed a defamation suit against Mr Naidu for certain remarks. Mr Reddy is also a BJP minister in Karnataka. Mr Naidu secured a stay from the AP High Court.
Mr Y.V. Subba Reddy, MD of Sree Swarna Energy Limited, and relative of the Chief Minister, slapped a legal notice for Rs 69.18 crore on Mr Naidu and Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, for their protests against his company’s 3-MW power project.
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