AP CID to probe ₹46 crore cheating in SC corporation

Vijayawada: Social welfare minister Merugu Nagarjuna announced that Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of AP will file criminal cases against vehicle dealers who have taken advances from AP Scheduled Castes’ Corporation but have not delivered vehicles.

He was speaking after reviewing the working of SC corporation at its headquarters here on Thursday.

The minister pointed out that Telugu Desam government had through the AP SC Corporation paid ₹46 crore as advance to vehicles dealers Kinetic Green Energy Power Solutions, Pune; Venkateswara Traders, Tadepalli; Eagle Agri Equipments, Kavali; and Entrans Automobiles, Pedda Tadepalli.

The advance was for supply of e-autos, tractors and drain cleaners. However, neither the vehicles have been delivered so far, not the advance refunded, Nagarjuna pointed out.

The minister directed officials of SC corporation to file a complaint with CID and register criminal cases against these dealers to recover the corporation’s money. He asserted that not a single rupee belonging to SCs will be allowed to be misused.

Nagarjuna disclosed that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is considering waiver of the 25 percent loan amount allotted to SCs through Land Purchase Scheme (LPS). A final decision on this matter will be taken soon.

The minister said as part of PM AJAY (Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna), ₹60 crore have been sanctioned during 2021–22. He underlined that the action plan for this amount will be implemented by end of January. He pointed out that under PM AJAY, another ₹130 crore have been sanctioned for the year 2022–23.

Nagarjuna also directed officials to take immediate steps to check illegal alienation of lands belonging to SC Corporation in various parts of the state.