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BRS leaders knock at ED’s door; want agency to spill beans on Ponguleti’s case
In Short
BRS legislators stage a protest outside the Enforcement Directorate office in Hyderabad, demanding a public status update on money laundering investigations and searches linked to Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.
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BRS leaders knock at ED’s door; want agency to spill beans on Ponguleti’s case
Hyderabad: The BRS legislators on Monday urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to disclose the status and outcome of the searches, investigations and proceedings initiated against Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, his son Harsha Reddy and M/s Raghava Constructions.
There was high drama in front of the ED office as the group of MLAs and MLCs were stopped by the police while they were going inside the office to meet the top officials, which made the party leaders to protest outside. Later, the BRS legislators were allowed inside and they gave the representation to deputy director Swathi.
The delegation or BRS leaders led by MLAs KP Vivekananda and K Sanjay requested accountability under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The BRS leaders gave references of the cases. They pointed out that on September 27, 2024 - Searches conducted by the Directorate of Enforcement on at about 16 premises in Hyderabad and Khammam, in a money laundering case arising from a complaint of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs.
On February 5 2024 - Chennai Air Customs seizure of of two luxury watches (Patek Philippe 5740 and Breguet 2759) valued at Rs 1.73 crore and on November 9, 2023 searches by the Income Tax Department on the premises of Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy.
The BRS leaders said that more than two full years have passed since the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) carried out one of the most visible and extensive search operations in Telangana’s recent history against a sitting Cabinet Minister and his family. To date, the Directorate has not placed in the public domain a single word on what was found, what was seized, what was attached, or what has become of the case.
The BRS leaders wanted to know whether the Directorate had received information under Section 66(2) of the PMLA, or taken cognisance, in respect of the Narayanpet Kodangal award, the Vattinagulapally FIR, or the Kotwalguda quarrying complaint? If not, will the Directorate examine whether these matters disclose scheduled offences and proceeds of crime, the BRS leaders questioned.
The BRS leaders wanted the directorate to provide a written reply to the clarifications above within 15 days of receipt of this representation, issue a public statement on the outcome of the searches of September 27 and 28, 2024 as the Directorate customarily does after searches under the PMLA.
They said that they would approach ED director of there was no reply from the state officials, the Union Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), and in the Telangana Legislature and Parliament, and to pursue such legal remedies as are available.
