Telangana: After ACB, ED to probe fraud in sheep rearing scheme

Hyderabad: Former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is headed for more trouble with the Enforcement Directorate initiating a probe into the alleged `700-crore sheep distribution scam that occurred during the previous BRS regime. Rao has already received notices from the Justice L. Narasimha Reddy Judicial Commission, which is probing irregularities that occurred in the power sector during the BRS regime.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will conduct a detailed investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)-2002 into the alleged fraud in the implementation of the Sheep Rearing Development Scheme (SRDC). It has sought details from Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which is probing the case.

The CAG had also noted the scam, including claims that dozens of sheep were transported on two-wheelers, autorickshaws and even ambulances.

The ED asked the Telangana Sheep and Goat Development Cooperative Federation Limited (TGSGDCPL), which is the implementing agency, to provide details of district-wise beneficiaries. The probe agency also sought information on the bank accounts from which funds were disbursed by the TGSGDCPL to district authorities and subsequently to the beneficiaries.

Additionally, the ED sought details of the funds received from beneficiaries as their contribution to the scheme, including the bank accounts in which these funds were deposited. The agency also asked for district-wise details of the transport agencies selected for delivering sheep to beneficiaries, payments made to these agencies, and information about the vehicles used.

The ED sought details of sheep feed procurement, supply to beneficiaries, payments made for procurement, and the list of vendors with their bank account information. It also requested any internal reports regarding fraud in the implementation of the scheme.

The ACB has arrested former officials including Sabavath Ramchander, chief executive officer of Telangana Livestock Development Agency, and Gundamaraju Kalyan Kumar, a former OSD to the then minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav.

The ACB stated that they violated procurement guidelines and involved private persons in the process deliberately.