ED probe sought into money trail, property deals by Revanth Reddy, in allocating Assembly seats

HYDERABAD: The Joint Director, Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad on Friday was urged to investigate the rampant corruption, extortion, amassing of black money, and money laundering by A. Revanth Reddy, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President, in connivance with AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, AICC Telangana In-charge Manik Rao Thakre, in issuing Assembly tickets.

The serious corruption charges were made by former TPCC secretary and aspirant from Gadwal Assembly constituency Kuruva Vijay Kumar following the seizure of a huge amount of money by Income Tax (IT)department in Karnataka to the tune of Rs 95 crore in two separate raids.

“We wish to draw your kind attention to the rampant corruption, money laundering and extortion mocking democratic tradition and defeating the very idea of electoral politics in Telangana state by Indian National Congress leaders and office bearers,” Vijay Kumar said in his complaint to ED.

Revanth Reddy, KC Venugopal, and Manikrao Thakre were brazenly involved in corruption, money laundering, extortion, property deals on benami while issuing tickets to Congress candidates, turning the whole process into an illegal exercise of ‘Cash for Ticket’, he said.

Vijay Kumar mentioned that the Congress party made a policy declaration in their recent Udaipur plenary meeting that no two tickets would be given to any family and also that it required to serve five years to be eligible for the MLA or MP ticket and no ‘parachuters’ would be given tickets.

Subsequently, Telangana Congress launched a process of seeking applications from various aspirants with a fee of Rs 25,000 (for SC, STs and differently abled) and Rs 50,000 (for OBCs and OCs and minorities).

However, the Telangana Congress party declared 55 MLA tickets out of 119, of which there was a gross violation of their Udaipur declaration. Many people were given tickets, even though they had not even submitted their applications as directed by Telangana Congress.

After the list of 55 MLAs was announced, there have been widespread protests and allegations by many Congress leaders pointing towards receiving crores in black money, land, properties, and other valuables by Congress party decision-makers for issuing tickets to Congress candidates.

“Requesting immediate and in-depth probe into the corruption, money laundering, extortion in issuing tickets by Congress party in Telangana, we present before you complete facts and data corroborating the corruption complaints,” the complainant said requesting ED for action.

The Money Trail

The seizure of Rs 42 crore of currency being transported, purportedly to Telangana for funding the Congress party’s election expenditure, by the Income Tax department in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

According to widely covered media reports, IT officials seized a cash stash worth Rs 42 crore from the premises of a BBMP contractor, who was associated with the Congress party, in Bengaluru. The raids sparked off a heated debate with former Chief Minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy and Karnataka BJP MLAs alleging that the money was part of Congress's illegal fund ‘collection’, meant for campaigning in Assembly polls in Telangana and four other states to be held in November.

“It is being alleged that the total amount being carted was Rs 50 crore, out of which Rs 8 crore was already delivered to secret sources of Revanth Reddy. Necessary newspaper clippings and video clips have been submitted for your kind perusal,” the complainant said.

Another important point mentioned by Vijay Kumar was that on October 15, 2023, about Rs 45 crore cash was recovered from the residence of builder Santhosh Krishnappa by IT Department. IT raids were also conducted at several locations in Bengaluru on October 15 and 16 and about Rs 50 crore were seized from multiple locations in Bengaluru.

According to media reports and statements of Karnataka BJP leaders, seized money belonged to the Benamis of the leaders and members of the Congress. One Ambikapati belonged to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faction, while former MLC Bemel Kantharaju belonged to Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.

“The corruption and irregularities in distributing tickets and election campaigning have reached new heights in Telangana, mocking the very idea of democracy. Serious corruption allegations were being made by Congress leaders, who are contenders for party tickets from different Assembly constituencies in Telangana on Revanth Reddy, alleging that the TPCC president had ‘sold’ tickets to those who greased his palms,” the Congress leader complained.

As latest as on October 16, 2023, Vijay Kumar alleged that Gadwal Assembly ticket was sold for Rs 10 crore of money and 5 acres of land to Mrs Saritha Thirupataiah. The Gadwal ticket was given to Saritha Thirupataiah, Zilla parishad Chairman, who had crossed over to the Congress from the Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS) just a few weeks ago.

Vijay Kumar was suspended from the party on October 16, 2023, for leveling allegations against Revanth Reddy. He claimed that Revanth Reddy sold 65 party tickets for Rs 600 crores.

There have been allegations that Revanth Reddy and others have accepted huge monies for giving party tickets in gratification from Malkajgiri BRS MLA Mynampally Hanumanth Rao and given tickets to him and his son. As mentioned, Revanth Reddy and Co have even breached the Congress party’s apex body decision in the Udaipur Declaration, of giving tickets to candidates who have served for at least five years in the party, to accommodate Mynampally Hanumanth Rao and his son in return for financial benefits.

Similar accusations were made against TPCC leadership for having indulged in extortion from BRS MLC Kasireddy Narayana Reddy, who was given a Congress ticket from Kalwakurthy Assembly constituency, BRS MLC Kuchukuntla Damodar Reddy, whose son Rajesh Reddy got ticket from Nagarkurnool Assembly seat, former BRS MLA Vemula Veeresham, who got ticket from Nakrekal SC reserved constituency.

The Congress leader Harivardhan Reddy and his cadre protested in Keesara village against Congress leadership, demanding the release of surveys. His followers also protested in front of Gandhi Bhavan and interrupted the press meeting of Jupally Krishna Rao.

Mallu Ravi’s press meeting in Gandhi Bhavan was interrupted by Minority leaders who alleged that unrelated people were being given party tickets in Old City, in exchange for financial benefits.

Uppal leader Ragidi Laxma Reddy, resigned from Congress after he was denied a ticket. He made serious corruption allegations against Revanth Reddy about selling party tickets.

Kotha Manohar Reddy alleged that Badangpet Mayor Chigirintha Parijatha Narasimha Reddy had given a bribe of Rs 10 Cr and registered 5 acres of land in Revanth Reddy's name as quid pro quo for the allocation of Maheshwaram constituency party ticket.

Chintalapalli Jagadeshwar Rao’s cadre protested and ransacked Kollapur party office, after he was denied ticket and allotted to cash-rich Jupally Krishna Rao. He alleged that Revanth Reddy had ‘sold’ party tickets for a huge bribe.

Supporters of Former Minister and Nagarkurnool ticket contender Nagam Janardhan Reddy gheraoed Revanth Reddy, demanded a ticket for their leader while alleging that tickets were being sold in Congress.

Former minister Nagam Janardhan Reddy complained that the Congress party has done injustice to sincere leaders who worked for the party, making TPCC president Revanth Reddy responsible for this.

A meeting of Chintalapalli Jagadeeshwar Rao, dissident leaders and activists was held at Mushtipalli, Peddakothapalli mandal, Nagarkurnool district on October 16.

Congress leader Singireddy Somashekar Reddy made strong comments against Revanth Reddy. He stated that if, by chance, Revanth Reddy were to become the Chief Minister, he would sell the state. He also mentioned he had purchased 10 cars for Revanth Reddy’s convoy. He along with his wife and A S Rao Nagar Corporator Sirisha Reddy resigned from the Congress.

Former TPCC Secretary Puduri Jitender Reddy resigned from the party charging Revanth Reddy with selling seats. He said Revanth Reddy was caught red-handed in the cash-for-vote scam and now he's indulging in cash for the seat. Unfortunately, Revanth Reddy joined the Congress.

One leader from Mahabubnagar who is aspiring for a ticket said he paid Rs. 3 crore for the ticket.

Another woman leader said she had to shell Rs. 10 crore for the ticket. There were allegations in all the districts.

One NRI reportedly had to register his villa in the name of a TPCC leader to secure a ticket to contest the Assembly elections on a Congress party ticket.

Congress Leaders protested in Delhi Over Tickets Issue In Telangana on October 8. Congress aspirants staged a protest in front of the Congress war room in Delhi and demanded that those who participated in the Telangana agitation should be given tickets. They demanded that Screening Committee chairman Muralidharan come out and hear them out.

Congress BC Leaders Protest Over Tickets Allocation in Delhi. Aspirants belonging to Backward Classes held a series of meetings and staged protests in Delhi in front of the war room. They leveled allegations against the Congress Screening Committee

Congress Activists Protest At Gandhi Bhavan Against Shyam Nayak: On 11th Oct’23, Asifabad Congress leaders protested at Gandhi Bhavan and questioned how would the party give the ticket to Rekha Nayak’s husband Shayam Nayak, they demanded that Sarasvathi who has been representing Congress party from Asifabad has to be given the ticket.

Congress Leaders Protest at Gandhi Bhavan demanding tickets for only Locals: Various leaders from the Congress party protested at Gandhi Bhavan on 10th Oct '23, demanding tickets for locals, ST seats to be increased by 5 seats, and tickets shall be given to Nagam Janardhan Reddy.

Tribal leaders protest at Gandhi Bhavan demanding 7 Assembly seats: Revanth Reddy irked by naysayers. Lambadi leaders demanded that MLA tickets should be given for them in Nalgonda, Nagarjuna Sagar, Miryalaguda, Kalwakurthy, Jadcherla, Medak and Narsapur constituencies.

Two Congress leaders, Kuruva Vikay Kumar, and Ragidi Lakshma Reddy, have asked the TPCC chief to swear by the Bhagyalakshmi temple deity at Charminar that he did not take money to allot tickets to party candidates. The two leaders are angry with Revanth for not giving party tickets.

Even former TPCC president and Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah had to leave Congress party as he and his supporters were denied tickets by Revanth Reddy, in favour of financially rich candidates,

The complainant submitted that he had serious doubts over the money trail that benefitted the leaders mentioned in the subject cited above. With corruption charges coming up from the Congress leaders themselves, it is a matter of serious concern as Telangana is going to polls and we have apprehensions that the Congress might use money power to influence the electorate in the state.

“We specifically request your honorable office to take up investigation into the financial transactions of Mr. Revanth Reddy, Mr. K. C Venugopal, Manikrao Thakre, in the larger interests of protecting the democratic electoral process and also breach of Prevention of Money Laundering Act,” the complainant said urging the ED.