‘Will act after reviewing US charges’: TDP’s Naidu on alleged bribery scandal involving Adani and YSRCP | India News – Times of India

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the state government will study the ‘chargesheet reports’ filed in the US regarding the alleged bribery scandal involving the former YSRCP government and the Adani Group and assured action action regarding these irregularities.
While addressing the state assembly, Naidu said his TDP-led government has been probing alleged corruption between 2019 and 2024 for the past five months.
The US Department of Justice has charged Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, for allegedly participating in a long-term scheme to provide $250 million in bribes to Indian officials for favorable solar contract terms. The Indian conglomerate has denied these allegations. The former YSRCP government is facing allegations that its officials took bribes from the Adani Group.
“In the past, systems were destroyed and the administrative apparatus became ineffective. We have already discussed the destruction and corruption carried out by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the last five years. Their actions have tarnished the party’s reputation and brand. Andhra Pradesh has created a situation where even tackling this issue has become difficult. The Andhra Pradesh government is closely monitoring this issue,” ANI quoted Naidu as saying.

“I have all the charge reports filed there (US). It is in the public domain. I will study it (the charges and the charge sheet). I will act on it and inform you,” PTI quoted Naidu as saying.
Naidu expressed concerns over how these claims have adversely affected the status and reputation of the southern state, calling it a “very sad development”.

YSRCP rejects the allegations and says it has no direct link with the Adani group

The YSRCP on Thursday dismissed claims against their board and stated that there were no direct contacts with the Adani group.
The YSRCP on Thursday released a statement highlighting that state power companies provide about 12,500 million free electricity annually to the agricultural sector, funded by the state government. The high PPAs of the previous TDP government led to financial problems for discoms as they had to buy power for almost Rs. 5.10 per kWh, which significantly increases the state’s subsidy burden.
To mitigate this problem, the state government has proposed to install 10,000 MW of solar capacity in solar parks to be developed in the state of AP by 2020 and has floated tenders through APGECL. In November 2020, a tender was floated for the development of solar power capacity with a total capacity of 6,400 MW, receiving over 24 bids with rates in the range of Rs. 2.49 to Rs. 2.58 per kWh. However, the tender faced several legal and regulatory hurdles and therefore the exercise could not bear fruit.
Following this, the state government received a proposal from SECI, a Government of India undertaking, offering 7,000 MW of power at Rs. 2.49 per kWh, including exemption from ISTS costs. SECI, operating under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, will source energy from projects chosen through the Request for Selection process.
The state government subsequently agreed to obtain 7,000 MW from SECI at Rs. 2.49 per kWh over 25 years, with 3,000 MW from 2024-25, another 3,000 MW in 2025-26 and 1,000 MW in 2026-27, including exemption from ISTS charges.
YSRCP confirmed that both APERC and CERC have approved the agreement. “There is no direct agreement between AP discoms and other entities, including those belonging to the Adani group. Therefore, the allegations against the then state government are false,” the YSRCP spokesperson said.
The party added that the Center has waived ISTS fees for 25 years. “The project does not incur any burden due to ISTS charges. The project is extremely beneficial with regard to the interests of the state and the purchase of power at such a cheap rate would significantly benefit the state with a saving of Rs. 3,700 crores per year,” the party concluded.
Members of the Assembly called for former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to be held accountable if the allegations against him are substantiated.