Vijayawada: VG Venkata Reddy, the former Director of Mines accused of orchestrating large-scale corruption and irregularities in sand and mineral mining under the YSRCP government, has been granted bail. The Vijayawada ACB Special Court Magistrate, Himabindu, issued the order, and Reddy was released from the district jail on Saturday night after 50 days in custody.
Reddy was arrested on September 26 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for his alleged involvement in a Rs. 2,566 crore sand scam. He faced charges under the Anti-Corruption Act, Mines and Minerals Act, and sections of the IPC, including criminal conspiracy and breach of trust. The case accused him of manipulating tenders, contracts, and sand mining operations in collusion with companies like Jayaprakash Power Ventures Limited (JPVL), GCKC, and Pratima Infra.
The ACB alleged that Reddy facilitated significant financial losses to the government, including returning bank guarantees to companies without ensuring dues were paid. Despite being taken into custody twice for questioning, Reddy reportedly did not cooperate with investigators, failing to provide key information about the scam’s masterminds or the ultimate beneficiaries.
The case highlights systemic exploitation in Andhra Pradesh’s sand mining sector, with further investigations expected to continue.
