ED steps into Telangana Sheep distribution scam under BRS regime
Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) started a parallel investigation into the multi-crore Sheep Rearing Development Scheme (SRDC) scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated the investigation reportedly based on the case filed by Telangana Anti Corruption Bureau(ACB). The joint director of ED zonal office, Hyderabad wrote a letter to the managing director of M/s Telangana State Sheep and Goat Development Cooperative Federation(TSSGDCFL) that an investigation will be taken up by the agency under the PMLA. The probe agency in the letter asked the managing director to furnish complete details about the scheme as TSSGDCFL is the implementing agency of the scheme.
The ED has asked for complete district wise details of the beneficiaries, sellers from whom sheep was purchased, the officials who handled the purchase or the funds, details of all payments to the transport agencies along with the details of vehicles, details of sheep feeds procured and subsequent supply to the beneficiaries. Further the Anti money laundering agency also sought a copy of an internal report prepared in respect of fraud committed in the implementation of SRDC scheme.
It is pertinent to note that a case filed at Gachibowli police station of Cyberabad commissionerate blew the lid off the multi crore Sheep Rearing Development Scheme(SRDC) scam. This case was later taken up by the Telangana Anti Corruption Bureau(ACB) due to the extent of the scam. Investigation of ACB revealed that the scam is running into whooping more Rs 700 crores.Now the ED had stepped into the investigation with the money laundering aspect emerging during the investigation.
ACB arrested 10 members in connection with the scam
So far ACB in its investigation arrested around 10 members in connection with the case including so fo the big fishes like Sabavath Ramchander, Chief Executive Officer, Telangana State Livestock Development Agency, and Gundamaraju Kalyan Kumar, former Officer of special duty(OSD) for former Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Fisheries and Cinematography Talasani Sirinivas Yadav.
Earlier ACB alleged that the accused colluded and conspired with Private persons, resorted to gross illegal acts and violations in the course of discharge of their duties. “They violated all the instructions issued for procurement of sheep and deliberately involved private persons/brokers in the procurement process. Further the accused persons illegally obtained undue advantage and caused wrongful loss to the Government exchequer and thus misappropriated Government funds worth Rs.2.10 crores” said ACB in their official statement while arresting the accused.
