Senior YSRCP leader and erstwhile Water Resources Minister Ambati Rambabu has found himself in new trouble, with the Andhra Pradesh alliance government directing an official inquiry into corruption charges. Rambabu, who has often complained of state attempts to target opposition leaders, had been openly provoking the government to arrest him. On Friday, those challenges turned serious, as orders for an inquiry were issued. Sources suggest the investigation could commence as early as Monday.
His term of more than two and a half years as a Minister in YSRCP rule is marked with allegations of massive irregularities. In the last few days, several complaints were made to the vigilance department and the state administration, prompting the authorities to initiate a detailed probe.
The major allegations revolve around the housing scheme for the poor. Under the initiative, private lands were purchased to allocate plots for beneficiaries. Reports claim that these lands were first bought at very low prices by YSRCP leaders and later sold to the government at inflated rates. Rambabu allegedly played a key role in the process, with land said to have been purchased at ₹10 lakh per acre and resold to the government for nearly ₹30 lakh per acre.
In addition, he is accused of using his influence to pressure private businessmen and extort money during his ministerial stint. With growing complaints and mounting criticism, Ambati Rambabu now faces a full-scale inquiry into his role in these alleged scams.
