Sat Nov 30 08:00:00 UTC 2024: **Andhra Pradesh CM Denies US Court Bribery Allegations in Solar Deal**
Vijayawada, India – Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has vehemently denied allegations of bribery related to a solar power deal, dismissing them as “hearsay” following their appearance in a US Department of Justice indictment. The indictment, which the Adani Group stated relied on claims of promised bribes without concrete evidence of payments to Indian officials, implicated Reddy in a deal with the Adani Group.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Reddy stated that his meetings with Gautam Adani, including one in August 2021, were part of his routine interactions with numerous business executives since becoming Chief Minister in 2019. He emphasized that his name is not explicitly mentioned in the indictment as receiving any bribes. He defended these meetings as a necessary part of attracting investment to the state.
Reddy clarified that his meeting with Adani in August 2021 was unrelated to the subsequent agreement with Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI). He highlighted that the SECI deal provided Andhra Pradesh with the cheapest power procurement rate in the state’s history at Rs 2.49 per unit, a significant benefit for farmers who receive free electricity. He further emphasized that the state welcomed the central government’s offer, which included a waiver of interstate transmission charges, as crucial to providing affordable power. The YSR Congress Party issued a statement supporting this, citing the low tariff as evidence against bribery accusations. Reddy attributed delays in the original 6,400-megawatt tender to court proceedings.
(Note: NDTV is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group company.)
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