BJP unleashes ED, CBI, IT on companies with links to detractors like TRS

HYDERABAD: "The nine puppies born between Jessie and Bluebell were taken by Napoleon who grooms them into ferocious dogs who work as his private army. The first time they were unleashed was on Snowball, his competitor, for the throne. Ever since, all animals were silenced."

The Orwellian epic of Animal Farm is spot on and relevant even to date, when it comes to discussing politics across the globe, more so in the world's largest democracy — India.

Politics of vendetta has been the order of the day in democratic India. They have only been wearing an ugly facet by every passing regime and every passing year. The self-proclaimed piety of political dispensations is obviously being eschewed by them. Their "saintly" persona is just unmasked by themselves to wreak vengeance against their detractors in a manner that hurts their subjects the most.

Coming straight to the point, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government at the helm in Delhi is taking to a funny practice of 'running with the (friendly) hare (selectively), and hunting (the foes) with the hounds (also selectively)'. However, it runs with different hares and hunts with different hounds.

Its hounds, like the fully-grown Orwellian puppies, are: the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Income Tax (IT), the Central GST (Customs & Central Excise), National Investigation Agency (NIA) and a few other institutions enjoying constitutional status, which are purportedly independent.

Without malic to any of these agencies, it is anybody's guess as to at whose behest these agencies are "functioning" as of now.

India showed a dismal performance on many economic parameters that gauge the country's economy. Its gross domestic product, soaring prices, inflation, plummeting rupee value and so on. The dreaded demon of demonetisation is still haunting not only macro-economics, but even the micro-economics, even as the blues of recession are looming large around the India's economy.

While the sharp jaws of crisis are wide open and waiting bite anytime, the self-inflicted injuries by the government itself are widening the hole in the books by denting the credibility of companies and individuals. Ironically, the Government of India is not bothered about how it is puncturing the economy through cannibalisation.

Many independent global organisations like Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House and Sweden's V-Dem Institute have downgraded India on issues pertaining to democracy and freedom. "India's unrestrained use of internet shutdowns to muscle protest and its expanded use of the sedition law" has come under sharp criticism by global agencies.

If someone is not falling in line, politically, or if someone is turning out to be a proverbial hard nut to crack, these central agencies are unleashed by the powers-that-be. By now, it has become so much cliched that the central agencies are almost on a daily basis engaged in the States ruled by non-BJP political parties, especially its detractors.

The central agencies got cracking targeting several business houses in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on one pretext or the other. They are wittingly or unwittingly debilitating the country's economy and also the investor confidence in the States. Though the Andhra Pradesh Government led by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is pliable to the BJP-led Union Government, the TRS Government in Telangana is essentially a proverbial thorn in the flesh. The proclivity to plunge the political opponent into asphyxiation by the BJP is too glaring.

Take a look at the various institutions that were targeted by the central agencies in the last one year.

As latest as on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, the Income Tax department was unleashed on the institutions of Telangana Minister M Malla Reddy and his family members at almost 50 places since 5.30 am. The ED officials also grilled personal assistant of Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav on November 21, 2022. A couple of days before, the minister's brothers were questioned by the ED.

Habitually, the kin and/or colleagues of TRS leaders targeted by the central agencies are a legion, including Ministers Gangula Kamalakar, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, MPs Nama Nageshwara Rao and Vaddiraju Ravichandra, MLA Manchireddi Kishan Reddy.

Raids/Searches carried out by Central Enforcement Agencies in Telangana in the last two years.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Hyderabad wing attached Rs 1,366 crore worth of properties in the fiscal year 2021-22 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which is one of the highest in South India. In the past three years, Hyderabad ED has attached Rs 7,064 crore of assets under PMLA.

Enforcement Directorate:

1. M/s. Swetha Granites, Swetha Agencies, Sri Venkateshwara Granites Private

Limited, M/s. PSR Granites Private Limited, M/s. Arvind Granites, M/s Giriraj Shipping Agencies Private Limited and their related entities in Karimnagar and Hyderabad on November 9 and 10 of 2022.

2. Aurobindo group – P Sarathchandra Reddy, who is still in judicial custody – Nov. 10, 2022

3. Heera Group

4. MBS Jewellers owner Sukesh Gupta – Oct. 18, 2022

5. TRS MP and party floor leader in Lok Sabha, Nama Nageswara Rao, and members of his family. This is in regard to an ongoing money laundering case against Ranchi Expressway Limited. Oct. 17, 2022

6. Delhi liquor policy case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches on a Andhra Prabha and IndiaAhead news channel in Hyderabad – Se[t. 16, 2022

7. Five Congress leaders from Telangana summoned by ED in the National Herald Case. The Enforcement Directorate had summoned these leaders to appear before it on October 11 and 12 to question them for laundering money.

8. Enforcement Directorate has frozen ₹10 crore in payment gateway accounts of Chinese- controlled entities in HPZ token crypto scam in which thousands of investors, including many from Hyderabad

9. ED questioned TRS legislator Manchireddi Kishan Reddy in connection with a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation case – Sept. 28, 2022

10. Delhi Liquor Scam: Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches in Eden Gardens gated community in Kokapet, Nanakramguda, Secunderabad and 13 other places. Sept. 16, 2022

11. Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned the money of Rs 25 crore transactions related to searches on casino dealers and hawala operator- Chikoti Praveen Kumar – July 28, 2022.

12. The Enforcement Directorate has accused Amway India Enterprises of running a multi-level marketing scam, while attaching its assets worth Rs 757 crore.

13. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a contempt case against the chief secretary as well as excise department for non-compliance with Telangana high court order to provide the audio-video recordings and other documents related to the 2017 drug scandal involving Tollywood

14. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached properties and shareholdings worth 1,984 crore of Karvy Stock Broking Limited (KSBL), its chairman C Parthasarathy and other accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

15. Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials from Hyderabad have seized Rs 1.2 crore cash from a hawala operator of Champhai district in Mizoram during human hair smuggling racket searches

16. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Servomax India managing director Avasarala Venkateswara Rao on money laundering charges in the Rs 402 crore bank loan fraud case.

17. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached a flat in Hyderabad valued at 30 lakh of one Kommalapati Kishore Babu, ex-business development manager of Global Trade Finance Limited, in a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

18. The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached Rs 100 crore worth assets of the accused in the IDBI bank loan fraud case.

19. Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested an auditor, linked to Chinese companies involved in transferring Rs 448 crore to Hong Kong-based firms through shell companies, from Delhi.

20. Searches against Agri Gold Scam.

21. Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested city-based jeweller Sanjay Agarwal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly smuggling and diversion of duty-free gold imported through the nominated agencies like MMTC and Diamond India Limited. He was arrested in Pune.

22. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 144 crore in the multi-crore Insurance Medical Services (IMS) scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

Central Bureau of Investigation:

1. Ongole YSR Congress MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy's son Magunta Raghava Reddy in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy scam – Sept.16, 2022.

2. The CBI arrested Abhishek Boinpally, another industrialist in Telangana, in connection with the investigation into the alleged irregularities in framing and implementation of the Delhi excise policy – Sept. 16, 2022. They are still under judicial custody.

3. A CBI special court in Hyderabad sentenced former YSR Congress MP Kothapalli Geetha to five years in jail for defrauding the Punjab National Bank (PNB) of Rs 42.79 crore.

4. CBI booked Arun Ramachandra Pillai, is a liquor businessman from Hyderabad and IAS officer Arava Gopi Krishna, who hails from Andhra Pradesh – Sept. 6, 2022.

5. CBI booked Visakhapatnam-based infra company and 10 persons in connection with a Rs 5.72 crore SBI loan fraud.

6. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked Jupiter Bioscience Limited (JBL) and its promoters for Rs 50 crore loan fraud following a complaint by IFCI limited

7. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked promoters of two Hyderabad-based firms, Victory Electricals, for 175 crore alleged loan fraud

8. A Navy engineer based in Visakhapatnam has been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a disproportionate assets (DA) case.

9. CBI booked Nellore-based Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Rice Mill for committing a Rs 17.7 crore Canara Bank loan fraud

10. Central Bureau Investigation Vishakapatnam unit has booked a case against the official of Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) for Rs 50 crore fraud

11. The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a chargesheet against disgruntled YSR Congress MP K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, his company Ind-Barath Power (Madras) Limited and 15 others in connection with Rs 947.70 crore loan fraud

12. The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a chargesheet against disgruntled YSR Congress MP K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, his company Ind-Barath Power (Madras) Limited and 15 others in connection with Rs 947.70 crore loan fraud

13. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked an FIR against Nandi Grain Derivatives Private Limited and its promoters connected to former Member of Parliament S P Y Reddy for Rs 61 crore loan fraud

14. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked a city-based firm and its directors for Rs 8 crore loan fraud of Union Bank of India. The firm, Prithiviram Infra, is a partnership engaged in infrastructure projects in industrial, residential and commercial concerns

Income Tax Raids

1. The Income Tax Department's Hyderabad unit conducted searches on Minister C Malla Reddy's educational institutions and residences of his family members and executives – Nov. 22, 2022

2. IT Raids were conducted on RS Brothers and Honer Homes, Lot Mobiles, etc. in regard to its real estate operations – Oct. 14, 2022.

3. Income tax investigation wing conducted searches on a multi-billion infra group, Phoenix Infrastructure Private Limited, in Hyderabad on August 30, 2022.

4. Income tax searched Vasavi Group and Sumadhura real estate companies across Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai – August 20, 2022.

5. Income Tax department conducted searches on three real estate companies in Hyderabad and Kurnool has unearthed unaccounted cash transactions of Rs 800 crore. Searches were against Skandhanshi Infra Projects, Raga Mayuri Developers and Navya Developers.About 80 lakh was seized – January 6, 2022.

6. Income Tax conducted searches in Hyderabad at two locations on Oppo Mobiles Telangana Private Limited – December 21, 2021.