ACB is setting a trap on VG Venkata Reddy, the former MD of the Department of Mines, who is facing complaints that he was behind the exploitation of sand, minerals and mines by YCP leaders during Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime. ACB has taken permission under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act to investigate his irregularities.
There are allegations that Venkata Reddy was involved in irregularities in all stages of sand mining, sales, tenders and contracts during the previous government’s regime. There are complaints that as per the orders of the key persons in the government, he has extended undue benefits to the private companies and caused huge loss to the public exchequer.
The Government has suspended him on 1st of this month and directed ACB to probe into those irregularities. In order to conduct an investigation against any government employee, the concerned investigating agency must obtain prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. To this extent, ACB officials have obtained permission from the Chief Secretary under this section.
VG Venkata Reddy is scheduled to retire on 31st of this month. But currently he is under suspension and cannot retire. ACB has already confirmed that he has violated many terms and committed irregularities in allotment of mining leases, finalization of sand tenders and contracts.
ACB is probing to know how he issued an NOC to the sand monopoly company Jaypee Power Ventures despite the fact that it owes Rs.800 crores to the government? Sand mining companies like JCKC and Pratima Infra are also involved in the violations.
Apart from this, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is conducting a preliminary investigation on the submission of affidavits containing false information in the Supreme Court, High Court and NGT. ACB has already collected several key pieces of evidence.
