Hyderabad: Leaders from the BRS accused officials of large-scale money laundering in paddy procurement. They claim bidders took an extra Rs 2,230 per tonne from millers. Today, they provided evidence to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Former Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman, Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, spoke at a press conference. He accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, and other officials of involvement in a scam that happened 18 months ago. “We held eight press conferences, but neither the Congress nor the government responded,” said Sudarshan Reddy. He added that KTR and Harish Rao raised the issue in the Assembly, and they even approached the High Court. The BRS claims that bidders sent the collected money to Congress leaders. They have documented the illegal transactions and filed a complaint with the ED.
The BRS prepared a 700-page booklet detailing the scam, which they sent to various agencies. “The guilty will face justice,” asserted the leader. He criticized the BJP for not responding, saying it raised suspicions. Reddy accused Congress of acting like “thieves,” stating Rs 423 crore were illegally transferred. He pointed out the government’s silence, despite the High Court’s requests, as proof of the scam.
Gangula Kamalakar accused officials of issuing tenders to sell 35 lakh tonnes of paddy in 90 days, noting irregularities from the start. He said funds meant for the government went to private accounts. Despite a complaint at the Panjagutta police station, an FIR was not registered, unlike for minor complaints against BRS activists. “We trust investigation agencies. Why is the ACB silent?” asked Kamalakar.
The BRS is reaching out to state and central investigation agencies about the scam. They called on Union Ministers Bandi Sanjay and Kishan Reddy to speak up. Present at the press conference were MLC Naveen Kumar Reddy, former corporation chairmen M Srinivas Reddy, Vasudeva Reddy, Satish Reddy, and BRS leader B Ramamurthy.
