HYDERABAD: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive searches on Thursday at multiple locations associated with Patancheru BRS MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy and his brother Gudem Madhusudhan Reddy. The raids, initiated early in the morning, covered seven to eight locations including the offices of Santosh Granites and other associated firms, as well as properties of alleged benamis of the accused.
The ED's investigation stems from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Patancheru police against Madhusudhan Reddy, who is identified as the principal accused in the case. He faces charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) along with other involved parties.
Earlier, Gudem Madhusudhan Reddy was arrested by local police for alleged illegal mining activities conducted through his firms. He was remanded in judicial custody following a complaint by the Mandal Revenue Officer, which accused him of illegal and excessive mining. His firm, Santosh Granite Mining, is at the center of these allegations, which include violations of central environmental norms and unauthorized excavation beyond the permitted limits. Authorities also accused Reddy of continuing mining operations even after the expiration of the relevant permits.
The local authorities recently seized the quarry operations. The Tehsildar’s complaint led to a police case against Madhusudhan Reddy for illegal mining and cheating, resulting in his arrest and the seizure of his crushers.
Following the discovery of illegal mining activities in the Patancheru constituency, Sangareddy Collector Valluru Kranthi initiated an inquiry led by a task force committee chaired by Sangareddy RDO Ravindar Reddy. The committee's investigation uncovered numerous illegal mining operations conducted by companies owned by Madhusudhan Reddy in Lakdaram.
In the course of the ongoing ED investigation, MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy has also come under scrutiny.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Sudhakar Reddy Udumula is the Editor (Investigation) at the Times...
Read MoreSudhakar Reddy Udumula is the Editor (Investigation) at the Times of India, Hyderabad. Following the trail of migration and drought across the rustic landscape of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sudhakar reported extensively on government apathy, divisive politics, systemic gender discrimination, agrarian crisis and the will to survive great odds. His curiosity for peeking behind the curtain triumphed over the criminal agenda of many scamsters in the highest political and corporate circles, making way for breaking stories such as Panama Papers Scam, Telgi Stamp Paper Scam, and many others. His versatility in reporting extended to red corridors of left-wing extremism where the lives of security forces and the locals in Maoist-affected areas were key points of investigation. His knack for detail provided crucial evidence of involvement from overseas in terrorist bombings in Hyderabad.
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