Former Minister Atchannaidu Arrested

Visakhapatnam, June 12 (Maxim News): The former minister of the state K. Atchannaidu was arrested by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) wing of the state in multicrore ESI scam today. The sleuths of the ACB reached the residence of Naidu at Nimmadal of Srikakulam district at 7.30 am in the morning and arrested him.

The Joint Director of the ACB Ravi Kumar said that they had arrested five other accused in the scam besides the MLA. Revealing the details of the scam, Kumar said that the irregularities took place in the purchase of lab kits, surgical items and furniture. He said that the accused had bought the items in the name of the family members of the former director of the corporation CK Ramesh Kumar by using fake quotations. He also said that the items were purchased for more than 50 percent to 130 percent higher rates than their normal prices. He also said that the accused had preferred nomination method to buy the items instead of opting for e-tender method. He said that scam was worth Rs.150 crore and added that it took place over a period of the last five years. He said that they had also gathered evidences to prove that the items were purchased by wrong invoices.

Kumar also said that some of the affairs of the department had taken place without the knowledge of the officials of the labour department of the state. He also said that they had gathered evidence against the former minister Atchannaidu, former director CK Ramesh Kumar, Dr. Vijay Kumar in the scam. The ACB has arrested Ramesh Kumar in Tirupati, Vijay Kumar in Rajamahendravaram. The ACB JD said that they would produce the accused before a special ACB magistrate at Vijayawada for their remand. (Maxim News)

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