K Chandrasekhar Rao reviews progress of probes into Opposition leaders
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar has begun reviewing the progress of investigation into scams that broke either during the tenure of Congress-ruled governments of undivided Andhra Pradesh, or involving Opposition leaders. Mr Rao recently called for a review of the cash-for-vote scam probe that involved then TD legislator A. Revanth Reddy, who is now in the Congress, followed by the Indiramma housing scam when TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy was minister for housing which involved Congress leaders and a few from the TD.
With a few months left for the general elections, the TRS seems to be getting its ammunition ready to attack the Opposition during the campaign. In a sudden development, Mr Rao had held a five-hour review with the Anti Corruption Bureau police and law officials about the cash-for-vote case of 2015, that allegedly involves TD president and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The case, put on the back burner for two years, was dug up and a report by the forensic laboratory was submitted. Three days later, the days, on May 10, the CID reopened the multi-crore Indiramma (Integrated Novel Development in Rural Areas and Model Municipal Areas) housing scam case, a development that should worry then minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Sources said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister, the investigating authorities reviewed the status of the investigation which was in go-slow mode for two years.
The Indiramma housing scam reportedly involves Rs 800 crore. The case was first put in cold storage with the Crime Investigation Department. It was then transferred to the Vigilance and Enforcement wing. The TRS government when it came into power directed the CID to probe the case. After initial investigations, the pace slowed down. Now, a fresh report has been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office. Sources in the CMO did not reveal the reason behind the review of this scam. They, however, confirmed that review reports had been submitted to the CMO by various investigating agencies.
