Amaravati: Former Director of Mines Department, VG Venkata Reddy, who allegedly played a central role in the sand and mines exploitation scandal under Jagan’s government, is accused of destroying critical evidence linked to the case.
Venkata Reddy, who held key positions as Director of Mines and MD of APMDC, reportedly hid his official laptop during the ACB’s (Anti-Corruption Bureau) investigation. Despite searches and inquiries during his arrest, the laptop was not initially recovered. However, after being released on bail, he handed over the laptop, only for ACB officials to discover that all the data had been erased.
Additionally, Venkata Reddy failed to surrender the two iPhones he used during his tenure, later claiming they had been destroyed. ACB has since uncovered that this was part of a criminal conspiracy to protect the identities of those involved in the sand scandal and to suppress incriminating evidence.
The Scope of the Scandal
ACB estimates that approximately ₹2,566 crores were siphoned off during Jagan’s regime under the guise of the sand policy. Venkata Reddy allegedly conspired with companies like JCVL, GCKC, and Pratima to loot crores, bypassing dues to the government and committing violations in tenders and sand mining operations.
ACB believes key data—messages, contracts, and instructions—were stored on the destroyed devices. Efforts to recover this information are ongoing, and strict action is being prepared against Venkata Reddy and his alleged collaborators.
