BJP MP Soyam Bapu Rao says he used MPLADS funds to build a house for himself

HYDERABAD: Adilabad BJP MP Soyam Babu Rao found himself in a controversy of his own making, purportedly saying that he had used a part of his MP Local Area Development Scheme funds to build a house for himself. The video has gone viral on social media.

In the video, the BJP MP could be seen addressing party workers. Hours after the video clip began making rounds on various social media platforms, he said the event shown in the video took place about four days ago, and that he had not seen it yet.

Bapu Rao also said that unless he saw the video, he would not be able to comment on it. He said that it could have been altered and leaked by his political rivals.

In the video, Bapu Rao could be purportedly heard saying that, “I did not have a house, and if I did not have one, I would have no value and so I used some of the funds to build one. I am admitting to what I did, something no other leader would do, leaders who in the past swindled a lot of such funds. There was also a marriage that I had to perform and used some funds for that.”

Later, speaking with a news channel in the wake of the video going viral, Bapu Rao did not deny that he made the comments. He said “I have been busy and have not seen the video. Maybe it is an altered video, or maybe something was done to it. I will not be able to comment on it until I see it. It was a private meeting with my party workers and supporters and my rivals in the party must have something to do with leaking the video.”