Did TRS Minister Gangula Kamalakar's 'conversation' blow the lid off fake CBI officer?

Hyderabad: TRS Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra and Minister Gangula Kamalakar appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation in the fake CBI officer KomiReddy Srinivas case on December 1.

CBI had arrested an Andhra Pradesh man for posing as a CBI officer from Tamil Nadu Bhawan in New Delhi. The man impersonated the Joint Additional Director General of police and demanded costly gifts from his clients in return for favors.

On 30th November, CBI knocked the doors of Karimnagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar's house and issued him the summons. "Investigation into the fake CBI officer's case has revealed a connection between Telangana MP and Minister Gangula and Ravichandra with Komireddy Srinivas and said to have few dealings," a senior officer with CBI told NewsMeter.

Did Gangula Kamalakar's phone conversation lead the agency to the fake CBI officer? The chronology of events that led to the arrest of Komireddy Srinivas indicates the lead came through Gangula Kamalakar. It is pertinent to note that Gangula Kamalakar and the Rajya Sabha MP Ravichandra are relatives. Sudhakar Kamalakar's (Gangula's elder brother's) daughter is married to MP Ravi Chandra's son.

Not too long ago, granite companies associated with the TRS minister and Karimanagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar were raided. O November 9, ED, conducted searches in Hyderabad and Karimnagar. During searches, one office cum residence of Sudhakar Kamalakar in the Srinagar colony of Hyderabad was also raided. One of the documents pertaining to the granite companies was further found in the office of MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra.

The probe found that granite companies have benami accounts. It also exposed the links with a Chinese firm named in the Panama Leaks. Around five companies have been booked under FEMA.

A highly placed source told NewsMeter that following ED's searches against the MLA, his whereabouts were under scanner. His connection with fake CBI officer Komireddy was established recently. His conversation with Komireddy surfaced which tipped off another enforcement agency which further gave the lead to the Central Bureau of Investigation about the impersonator.

Komireddy had assured Gangula Kamalakar of 'help' in Delhi and it is also believed that Komireddy had gone to Delhi pretending to pull some powerful strings in regard to his case and the rest is history.

ED stumbled upon a mine

Following the searches, ED teams also found multiple benami bank accounts held in the name of employees of granite exporters. These accounts reportedly received 'cash' against the illegal granite exports. This explains the exports against the royalty paid.

"Search action also led to the detection of money being routed back from Chinese entities into the Indian entities in the form of hand loans without documents. These Chinese entities are owned by Li Wenhuo, whose name appeared in Panama leaks" ED said in the statement.

ED began an Investigation into illegal granite mining and FEMA violations based on the Vigilance & Enforcement Department of the state government report. These documents concluded that a large-scale evasion of the 'Seigniorage fee' on granite blocks transported from the quarry lease areas of Karimnagar District to the Sea Ports by Railways was detected and demands for the evaded royalty were raised but not paid by the exporters.

MLA Kamalakar has been engaged in granite firms based out in Karimnagar for over 3 decades. A case was filed against him in 2012 alleging the exchequer lost some ₹ 750 crore due to his "illegal" operations. What followed was a complaint from BJP Telangana State president and MP Bandi Sanjay in November last year.

Who is Fake CBI officer Komireddy Srinivas?

The CBI arrested an Andhra Pradesh man for posing as a CBI officer from Tamil Nadu Bhawan in New Delhi. The man impersonated a joint Additional Director General of police and demanded costly gifts.

According to CBI sources, Komireddy Srinivas of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, has a good hold in the political corridors and bureaucracy of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. He has been impersonating a CBI officer for a long time to execute forgeries and deals worth crores of rupees.

From offering employment to allowing entry of goods vehicles of a private company during no-entry hours in the National Capital Region, Srinivas assured solutions to problems faced by his clients.

As a part of the investigation, the CBI team reached Tamil Nadu Bhawan in Delhi on Sunday night. Srinivas was seen talking to someone on the third floor on the phone. After completing all the legal formalities, he was arrested and his mobile phone was seized.

It is alleged that Srinivas allegedly met six persons after coming to the national capital on 22 November and offered them favorable outcomes in various matters pending before government authorities.

Investigation revealed that he had put the CBI and IPS logos on his mobile phone and WhatsApp profile picture. CBI has also seized many important documents, goods, his car, and Rs 21 lakh cash which he received as an undue pecuniary advantage.