AP govt to register cases, conduct CID probe against vehicle dealers

PNS|Vijayawada

Social Welfare Minister Merugu Nagarjuna has said that a CID probe will be conducted and criminal cases registered against the vehicle dealers who failed to supply vehicles despite receiving crores of rupees from the AP SC Corporation.

The minister said that during the previous TDP government’s rule, the SC Corporation paid Rs 46 crore in advance to the dealers to supply various vehicles, but failed to supply them. The dealers did not even return the payments. He reviewed various issues at the 11th Committee of Persons (COP) meeting held at SC Corporation headquarters here on Thursday.

The Social Welfare Minister said that during the TD government’s term, Kinetic Green Energy Power Solutions (Pune), Venkateswara Traders (Tadepalli), Eagle Agri Equipments (Kavali) and Entrans Automobiles (Pedda Tadepalli) got tenders for the supply of e-autos, tractors and mission drain cleaners and received crores of rupees in advance from the government. He said that an amount of Rs. 46 crore remained with the dealers. But neither the vehicles were supplied nor was the amount refunded.

Minister Nagarjuna directed the officials to file a complaint with the CID, besides registering criminal cases against the respective dealers to recover the money of the SC Corporation. He also asked them to intensify the collection of dues related to the corporation. He warned that even a single rupee of money belonging to SCs would not be allowed to misuse. Further the minister also directed the officials to take immediate steps to prevent alienation of the SC Corporation lands in various parts of the State.

The minister ordered to send back Executive Directors (EDs) of the Corporation in various districts on deputation, those who have completed one year of service.

He said that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was considering waiving off the 25 per cent loan amount allotted to SCs through Land Purchase Scheme (LPS) and the CM is likely to take a final decision on this matter soon. He mentioned that as part of PM AJAY scheme, Rs. 60 crore had been sanctioned for the year 2021-22 and it has been announced that the action plan for this amount would be implemented by the end of January. He further mentioned that under this scheme, another amount of Rs.130 crore had been sanctioned in 2022-23.