Former Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy is likely to be implicated in the solar power project bribery case and obtaining legal advice on the possibility of prosecuting Jagan. It is known that the US Securities and Exchange Commission has filed charges in the courts there in the solar power purchase agreement case. A case has been registered against Gautam Adani and others in the US.
The charge sheet states that the Andhra Pradesh government paid a bribe of Rs. 1750 crore in 2021 to get a 7,000 megawatt solar power purchase agreement. The charge sheet specifically mentions the involvement of the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister in this matter. Based on this, the coalition government has sought the advice of legal experts on whether a case can be registered against Jagan under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
If the advice of legal experts is positive, the government is likely to seek the Governor’s permission to prosecute Jagan. According to Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Governor’s permission is required to arrest and investigate the former CM.
To send a signal to the people that they are not taking this lightly, BJP floor leader Vishnu Kumar Raju, TDP MLAs Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdhury, Vasantha Krishna Prasad and others demanded action against Jagan, mentioning the solar power tender issue in the assembly.
Later, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also made it clear that corruption will not be tolerated and necessary action will be taken. Since Gautam Adani is involved in this matter, the government intends to move forward cautiously.
The TDP raised its voice against this issue when the Jagan government signed a solar power purchase agreement through SECI only. On behalf of that party, the then MLA and PAC Chairman Payyavula Keshav publicly raised his voice. Keshav alleged that the agreement signed by Jagan was becoming an unbearable burden for the state and that he was emptying the pockets of the people to fill his pockets.
Not leaving it at that, he also complained to the Central Electricity Regulatory Board about this agreement. But later the Central Regulatory Board rejected the complaint. With this, Keshav filed a petition in the High Court challenging this agreement. CPI State Secretary Ramakrishna also filed another petition in the High Court on the same issue. These have not come up for hearing yet.
It seems that Power Minister Gottipati Ravikumar is examining the contract documents, discussing with the relevant officials and passing on the information to CM Chandrababu. He said that the Jagan government has indulged in such corrupt practices and has been implementing chaotic policies, which has caused the burden of electricity on the people. He said that they are examining the matter thoroughly and will respond officially after that.