KVP Ramachandra Rao, a close aide of former chief minister the late YS Rajasekhar Reddy, and some ‘elite’ people including businessmen, reportedly played a vital role in getting investments into Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s companies.
As many as five witnesses, including the then principal secretary of YSR, Jannat Hussain, stated before the CBI that most of the businessmen accused in Jagan assets case had close association with YSR and got benefits from the government.
Industrialists, political leaders and other elite people used to have dinner or lunch with KVP Ramachandra Rao and Rajasekhara Reddy at the camp office, the witnesses said.
Jannat Hussain, who is chief information commissioner now, said many industrialists and businessmen met Rajasekhara Reddy frequently regarding sanction of projects. “Sureedu, a henchmen of YSR, used to attend even official meetings along with him. Ramachandra Rao also accompanied YSR to some of the meetings, while Vijay Sai Reddy used to visit the CM’s camp office occasionally,” Hussain said in his statement.
Sureedu, another witness in the assets case, said the businessmen who sought Rajasekhara Reddy’s help in getting projects, met Ramachandra Rao first. Many businessmen approached YSR through Ramachandra Rao, who would direct N Sunil Reddy, an accused in Emaar-APIIC case, to collect money from the people who received benefits from the government.
After collecting the amount, Sunil Reddy moved it to various places on the directions of Ramachandra Rao, Jagan Mohan Reddy and Vijay Sai Reddy, he said. “Trimex Prasad, Nimmagadda Prasad, Penna Pratap Reddy, Indu Shyam Prasad Reddy, Ram Prasad Reddy, Ayodhya Rami Reddy, Nityananda Reddy, Sajjala Diwakar Reddy, Sajjala Rama Krishna Reddy, AK Dandamudi, N Srinivasan, Parthasaradhi Reddy and Srinivas Reddy used to meet Rajasekhara Reddy and discuss their projects,” Sureedu diposed.
Rajasekhara Reddy’s chief security officer M Ramesh, who is now Superintendent of Police, West Godavari, stated that the industrialists who received benefits from the government used to meet KVP Ramachandra Rao and Rajasekhara Reddy frequently.
The witnesses told the investigation agency that Sureedu and Sunil Reddy were also highly influential, besides Ramachandra Rao, when Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister.
Courtesy: The New Indian Express