Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh: In a major development, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has booked a case against former YSRCP leader Vidadala Rajini, IPS officer P Joshua, and two others, following allegations linked to illegal mining activities in Guntur district. This case comes to light amidst the revelation of Joshua’s statement to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and Andhra Pradesh government on October 21, 2024, which sheds new insights into the controversy.
Joshua, who served as the Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Officer (RVEO) from June 2019 to August 2021, strongly denied the allegations levied against him. According to his statement, the issue arose when Vidadala Rajini filed a complaint against a stone-crushing firm in her constituency, accusing it of illegal mining and tax evasion. However, Joshua’s preliminary inquiry revealed that the firm’s managing partners were supporters of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), intensifying a political rivalry with Rajini.
The controversy escalated when one of the firm’s partners, Katta Srinivas, sought to install a statue of former Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasad, an act opposed by Rajini and her followers. Joshua contended that political motives were behind the complaint and the subsequent investigation.
Despite these tensions, Joshua maintained that he carried out an impartial inquiry. Since his office lacked the technical manpower to investigate mining activities, he enlisted the help of the assistant director of mines and geology and the district land surveyor for a joint field inspection. Their report initially estimated a mining royalty evasion of ₹10.5 crore. However, upon review, Joshua found the estimates to be “excessive and illogical,” pointing out that such figures were unprecedented for road metal mining cases.
Joshua also shared that confidential inquiries suggested political influence in the survey, leading to inflated figures. His statement aims to clarify his stance amid growing scrutiny over the case.
