The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), whos MLA and former minister K Atchannaidu is facing probe in the Rs 150 crore ESI scam, has alleged that the son of a YSRCP minister took a Rs 1.5 crore car as a birthday gift from another individual accused in the Rs 150 crore scam.On Friday, the party shared a few documents and photographs with media to back its claim.
The opposition party has demanded Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan to dismiss his cabinet colleague and demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter.Senior TDP leader Ayyanna Patrudu on Friday accused YSRCP Labour Minister Gummanuru Jayaram's son Eshwar of accepting a costly Mercedes Benz car as a birthday gift from a person who has been accused in the ESI scam.
The accused has been identified as Telakapalli Karthik.Its minister Gummanuru Jayaram who was the real mastermind behind the ESI scam while the government wrongfully targeting TDP leader K Atchannaidu, said Ayyanna Patrudu.TDP also released a screengrab of Eshwars Facebook page besides the vehicle registration details as a proof of car being exchanged.The opposition party alleged that under the pressure of the ruling YSRCP, ACB officials deliberately targeted TDP leader K Atchannaidu, who is currently out on bail after spending almost two months in Jail.TDP has challenged CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy to prove his credibility and dismiss Jayaram from his cabinet based on the latest evidence."Evidence was available to show that the ministers (Gummanuru Jayaram) son accepted Mercedes Benz car as a birthday gift on December 12, 2019.
The car accepted by the minister's son had Telangana State temporary registration.
Even the finance papers of the car were given as part of the birthday gift in this instance.
The accused person Telakapalli Karthik, who runs a medical agency in Bhavanipuram in Vijayawada, posted the photos with the minister's son on his Facebook account as well, said TDPs K Pattabiram of TDP.Earlier TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh claimed that K Atchannaidu was offered Rs 50 crore by the ruling party for switching sides.The ESI scam case was lodged against him only after he refused to join the ruling party.
Even the authorities claim ESI scam case is a 150-crore scam, but the remand document mentions an alleged misappropriation of Rs 3 crore, said Nara Lokesh after Atchannaidus arrest.Andhra Pradesh Vigilance and Enforcement Department took up the ESI scam investigation in February this year and primary investigations revealed misappropriation of Rs 150 crore.
Over a dozen persons including TDP MLA Atchannaidu were arrested, the state home minister had said earlier.Andhra Pradesh anti-corruption wing has suspected that fake bills were produced for medicines which were not purchased.
Meanwhile, the price of medical equipment was inflated between 2014-2019 when Chandrababu Naidu was in power.