VIJAYAWADA: Centre for Liberty president Nalamotu Chakravarthy complained to the ACB DG in Vijayawada on Tuesday against former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Gautam Adani of Adani Group, former Energy Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, former Energy Secretary N Srikanth and others involved in the alleged multi-crore Power Purchase Agreement scam.
Given the accusations against the former CM of accepting Rs 1,750 crore bribe to purchase solar power at a higher price for over 25 years, thus burdening the State, Nalamotu wanted the ACB to register an FIR against the accused.
“All they assured me is that they will look into my complaint. For a legal process to commence, there should be a case in the first place, and a case can only be registered if there is a complaint. In the larger interests of the public, I complained to the ACB DG,” he told TNIE.
In his complaint, Nalamotu explained the PPA between the AP government and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI). He said compared to Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh had agreed to pay more for a unit of solar power. While AP agreed to Rs 2.42 per kWh, Gujarat secured an agreement for solar power at a significantly lower rate of Rs 1.99/kWh.
Though it was evident at that time that the people of Andhra Pradesh were forced to pay higher price for solar power purchases, no evidence of corruption was found. However, recent revelations have shed new light on the matter, prompting him to lodge the complaint, he said. In his complaint, he submitted details of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (USSEC) complaint with District Court for the Eastern District of New York, in which it was explained that Gautam Adani, founder of Adani Green, bribed the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (YS Jagan Mohan Reddy) to secure favourable terms for the solar power deal, and Rs 1,750 crore was paid to Jagan.
Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, the former Energy Minister, had publicly alleged that he was coerced to give nod to this tainted power purchase agreement in the middle of the night by N Srikanth, the then Energy Secretary, which was mentioned in the complaint.
Stating that it constitutes a breach of public trust, and is in direct violation of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and other relevant laws, Nalamotu requested the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into the matter.