HYDERABAD:The cash-for-vote case continues to haunt the Telugu Desam Party as the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) jailed Telangana TDP MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah after grilling him for more than seven hours on Monday, even as the Andhra Pradesh government shunted out State Intelligence Chief AR Anuradha and replaced her with AB Venkateswara Rao.
Venkata Veeraiah is the second TS-TDP MLA to be arrested in the sensational cash-for-vote case. The TTDP MLA from Sattupally constituency of Khammam district, Venkata Veeraiah is alleged to have made over 10 calls to Mattaiah Jerusalem, after which he reportedly spoke to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson, before the MLC poll.
But, even as the Telangana ACB went ahead with the arrest of Veeraiah, the AP government issued orders transferring state intelligence chief AR Anuradha, a move that was expected days after TS-TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy was arrested by the ACB.
The scam had put the TDP in general, and its president and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, in a tight spot. Some news channels had even aired the purported conversation between Naidu and TRS nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson, who was allegedly offered Rs 50 lakh during the MLC polls.
Sources said Naidu reportedly expressed his displeasure over the functioning of the Intelligence wing as it was not able to foresee what was coming with regard to the sensational cash-for-vote scam and the alleged phone tapping by the TS government including that of the AP Chief Minister.
Anuradha was replaced by AB Venkateswara Rao, presently working as Vijayawada Police Commissioner.