AP minister's son took Benz as birthday gift from ESI scam accused: TDP

Vijayawada: Senior TDP leader and former minister Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, on 18 September, accused YSRCP labour minister Gummanuru Jayaram's son Eeswar of accepting a costly Benz car as a birthday gift from a person accused in the ESI scam.

Mr. Ayyanna asserted that minister Jayaram was the real mastermind behind the ESI scam while the government wrongfully targeted BC leader Atchannaidu. He showed photos of the minister's son accepting the costly gift on 12 December 2019 from Telakapalli Karthik, an accused in the ESI scam.

Mr. Ayyanna said that while such clear proof was available against the ruling party minister, the ACB officials had deliberately targeted TDP leader and former minister K. Atchannaidu even though they had no evidence.

Addressing a press conference, the TDP leader demanded Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy prove his credibility by dismissing minister Jayaram from his Cabinet based on the latest evidence showing his family's direct involvement in the ESI scam.

Telakapalli Karthik, who runs a medical agency in Bhavanipuram in Vijayawada, had posted the photos with the minister's son on his Facebook page. Such clear evidence is now available based on which the CM should act at least now to prove his commitment to eradicating corruption in the state, the TDP leader said.

Mr. Ayyanna said that all these weeks, BC leader Atchannaidu was harassed and persecuted even as the ACB officials themselves said they had no evidence of the TDP leader accepting money from anybody. The Chief Minister owes an explanation to the Backward Classes on why Mr. Atchannaidu was ill-treated and subjected to severe hardships.

Alleging that Jagan was silent about the atrocities and political harassment all these days, Mr. Ayyanna warned the Chief Minister of a revolt from the BC leaders all over the state if his government continued its persecution. He asserted that the BC leaders would not be terrified of the YSRCP's intimidation tactics and they would continue to question and expose the misdeeds and failures of the Chief Minister.

Mr. Ayyanna had called the toll free number 14400 and complained about Mr. Jayaram's involvement in the ESI scam and about the costly gift from one of the accused. When the receptionist advised him to submit proofs to the local ACB office, he said that he had sent them directly to the Chief Minister's Office. Mr. Ayyanna further said that Mr. Jayaram was also involved in running gambling clubs in his native Kurnool district for which the government has not taken any action so far.