Rs 70-crore ESIC Scam In AP, Atchannaidu Distances Himself

The Vigilance Bureau officers of Andhra Pradesh have an unearthed a massive Rs 70-crore scam in the State's ESI wing.

The sleuths concluded that irregularities worth Rs 70 crore had taken place in the purchases of medicines and equipment costing Rs 975 crore.

The officers scrutinized the documents pertaining to 2014-2019 and found that the irregularities took place during the terms of three former directors of the ESIC.

It was also found that the irregularities were related to four ESI hospitals, three diagnostics centres and 78 ESIC dispensaries in the state.

Meanwhile, TDP MLA and former labour minister K Atchannaidu quickly distanced himself from the alleged scam, that took place during his term as the minister in charge of that department.

He said the ruling YSR Congress Party leaders were making baseless allegations against him on the issue.

Atchannaidu said that while the tele-health services decision was taken during his term as minister, the facility was first launched in Telangana and only then in AP. He said that he had sent a note asking the authorities to implement the scheme in AP too in the same manner as it was in Telangana, but that he had never asked the authorities to allot the contract to any one particular individual, and that the state had followed the instructions of the union government on the issue.