Brash confession: BJP MP Soyam Bapu Rao says he embezzled MPLADS funds

HYDERABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Adilabad Soyam Bapu Rao has openly agreed that he had utilised a part of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds for the construction of his house besides spending another portion of it for his son’s marriage.

Addressing the party cadre recently in Adilabad, the MP made the startling revelation that he had used up a part of the MPLADS funds for personal purposes while many other MPs had totally usurped them while they were supposed to be expended for the development of their respective constituencies.

Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the district collector the works to the tune of Rs 5 crore per annum to be taken up in his or her constituency.

“For the second time, I received Rs 2.5 crore and I allocated funds to a few MPTCs and councilors in this region. I spent a part of the funds for constructing a house here as it would not look good if an MP doesn’t have his own house in his constituency,” the MP had audaciously told the gathering which reflected the way the constituency development funds are being grossly misused.

Bapu Rao told the party cadre that he had also spent some money for the marriage of his son. Bapu Rao however patted his own back for not behaving like other Members of Parliament who spent all the MPLADS funds for personal uses.

The Adilabad MP, while washing his own dirty linen in front of fellow party workers, also revealed that he was not the only MP who had misused these funds. “There was a hue and cry from our party leaders when I said this but they are not comprehending how much they have misused,” Bapu Rao said.

Bapu Rao continued by saying that he was the only MP in the country who had received MPLADS of Rs 5 crore. “Even Bandi Sanjay and Dharmapuri Arvind also never saw that much money. This is what I could do for you,” he told the cadre.

He informed the BJP cadre that he had a phone call from Delhi that the next stash of MPLADS was deposited in his bank account. He assured them that he had decided to distribute the amount to MPTCs and councilors.

“Even now, I can use this money for my personal purpose. But I know you will forgive me for embezzling the funds only once, and not again and again. If I repeat this you will not treat me like a human being,” Bapu Rao told the shellshocked BJP workers.

He promised them that he would not touch a single rupee from the latest grant and spend everything on the development of the constituency.