The State Government has decided to order a probe into alleged corruption in the sheep distribution scheme. Former Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srininivas Yadav was in charge of the scheme. It is alleged that funds meant for payments to sheep suppliers were misappropriated. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) will also investigate missing files from the Department of Animal Husbandry.
A case has been registered with the Gachibowli police station based on a complaint filed by a farmer named Edukondalu. The complaint states that no payment was made after procuring sheep for distribution. The police have registered a case under Sections 406, 409, and 420 of the IPC.
Sources suggest that funds were diverted to benami accounts, resulting in sheep farmers from Prakasam district being denied payments. Preliminary investigation reveals that contractors Moinuddin and his son Akram procured sheep from Andhra sheep farmers but did not deposit the money into their bank accounts.
Officials suspect the involvement of two Assistant Directors of the Animal Husbandry department in the alleged misappropriation. Missing files and unpaid dues raise doubts about the role of top officials in the office of former minister Srinivas Yadav. The ACB will question close aides of the former minister and investigate the issue.
There are reports suggesting that the former minister’s OSD Kalyan influenced office staff to move files after the Congress government took power. However, Kalyan denies these reports. The ACB will also investigate this matter.
