According to the information provided by Venkata Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials conducted raids at the APMDC (Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation) office in Vijayawada. The ACB is investigating the financial dealings and tender processes related to sand and other minerals during the tenure of Venkata Reddy, the former Managing Director of the Mines Department.

It is reported that even after the sand tender process was completed, some companies did not pay the dues to the government. However, the government still returned their security bonds. This has caused financial loss to the government, leading the Mines Department officials to file a complaint.

Based on this complaint, the ACB had previously arrested Venkata Reddy, who is currently in judicial custody in the Vijayawada jail. The ACB officials recently took Venkata Reddy into custody for three days and questioned him extensively, asking around 60 questions. They were trying to gather information about the ultimate beneficiaries in the alleged ₹2,600 crore sand scam, and the higher-level officials who might have been involved.

During the interrogation, Venkata Reddy did not fully cooperate with the ACB officials, claiming that he had acted on the orders of higher authorities. He answered some questions but avoided others. After the three-day custody, the ACB officials handed him over to the Vijayawada jail for judicial remand.

Based on the information obtained during Venkata Reddy’s interrogation, the ACB officials have now conducted another round of raids at the APMDC office in Vijayawada. They are examining the details of the sand and other mineral tenders, the financial transactions, and trying to identify the key people responsible for the alleged scam.

-Sanyogita