VIJAYAWADA: The seizure of 25,000 kilograms of inactive dried yeast, suspected to be mixed with cocaine, by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Visakhapatnam Port has taken a political turn with the ruling YSRC and Opposition TDP pointing accusing fingers at each other.
Claiming that the YSRC has direct links with Sandhya Aqua Exports, the consignee company, the TDP alleged that Kunam Veerabhadra Rao, MD of the firm and native of Eedumudi village in Santhanuthalapadu constituency, and his entire family support the ruling party. One of the three brothers of the MD, Kunam Purnachandra Rao, is a senior YSRC leader in Naguluppalapadu mandal, the TDP pointed out.
Countering the TDP’s claims, YSRC general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy alleged that BJP State chief D Purandeswari’s son Hitesh and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu share connections with Sandhya Aqua Exports. He claimed that Purandeswari’s son and family members hold positions in the company.
Criticising the TDP and the BJP for politicising the ongoing investigations, Sajjala accused them of hindering the process with baseless allegations.
YSRC to write to CBI for thorough probe
He questioned the TDP chief’s preemptive finger-pointing at the ruling party even before the CBI commenced probe into the matter. He accused Naidu and his son Lokesh, of wrongly implicating the YSRC to mislead the public.
A day after seizure, TDP leaders held press conferences to hit out at the YSRC and maintained that owners of the consignee company are closely associated with the YSRC. They added that some of them are not only members of the ruling party, but also frequently visit the CM’s camp office in Tadepalli.
Further, party spokesperson K Pattabhiram even claimed that Vijayasai Reddy is involved as he has a ‘Brazil connection’.
To support its claims that the TDP shared links with Sandhya Aqua Exports, the YSRC shared photographs of TDP leaders with Kunam Kotaiah Chowdary, the son of the firm’s director.
The images have raised questions about the nature of the relationship between TDP leaders and individuals associated with the company.
In response to the unfolding situation, the YSRC has announced that it will write a letter to the CBI, urging for a thorough investigation into the case to uncover the truth behind the drug smuggling operation.
Additionally, the party has lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner and State Chief Election Officer against a vernacular daily and the TDP.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders lashed out at the YSRC for dragging the name of the party State chief and her family members into the case.
“Kunam Veerabhadra Rao had put out large cutouts during Sankranti to project his connection with YSRC. Now, they want to link Purandeswari’s family with the case,” they added.
Further, the saffron party asserted that Purandeswari’s son has nothing to do with the accused company as alleged.
