Two ex-Andhra ministers arrested, TDP says Jagan govt targeting OBC leaders

TDP strongmen and former ministers Achem Naidu and Kollu Ravindra were arrested – the first one for his alleged involvement in the ESI scam, while the second in a murder case. Sources have revealed that in the same ESI scam, former Labour Affairs Minister Pitani Satyanarayana too may be arrested since the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is believed to have gathered enough evidence. The vigilance and enforcement department has been working on this case for a year to make it foolproof.

Satyanarayana’s Personal Secretary Murali Mohan has already been taken into custody. He is presently working as a section officer in the municipal administration department. The police are also on the lookout for Satyanarayana’s son Venkata Suresh, who is said to have played a key role in the scam and is staying in Hyderabad. Both Suresh and Murali Mohan had filed anticipatory bail petitions in the AP High Court but the court is yet to take a decision.

Satyanarayana said that there’s a foul play in the ACB’s moves. “They registered a case against my son by intimidating the others who are arrested to target me. My son is not involved in any scam. It’s mere political vendetta,” he said.

On the other hand, the TDP has accused that OBC leaders are arrested and being harassed with false cases. Its leader Nimmala Rama Naidu said, “All arrested and jailed belong to OBC like Achem Naidu and Kollu Ravindra and false cases are being filed against Yanamana Ramakrishnudu. He is Yadav and is also an OBC leader. The Jaganmohan Reddy government is targeting backward class leaders only.”

However, YSRCP strongman Vijay Sai Reddy said, “Law does not see caste, creed or religion, whether the person is involved in a crime or not that’s the sole criteria. All criminals and looters of the public money should be sent to Jail.”