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Hans India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
ED facilitates restitution of Rs 611 cr to AgriGold victims
Vijayawada: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, has completed the process of restituting attached properties, valued at approximately Rs 611 crore (at the time of attachment), to the victims of Ponzi schemes orchestrated by the AgriGold group of companies. The current market value of these properties is estimated to exceed Rs 1,000 crore. In a significant development, the ED filed a restitution application in May 2025 under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, before the Special PMLA Court of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Hyderabad. The application sought the release of attached movable and immovable properties to the AP CID (where properties were also attached by AP CID), for their restoration to AgriGold Ponzi scheme victims under the Andhra Pradesh Protection of Depositors of Financial Establishments (APPDFE) Act. On June 10, 2025, the court approved the ED's restitution petition, paving the way for the return of these attached assets to the victims. The properties for which restitution has been allowed include 397 parcels of agricultural land, residential/commercial plots, and apartments. Of these, 380 properties are located in Andhra Pradesh, 13 in Telangana and four in Karnataka. The ED initiated its investigation into AgriGold Group of companies in 2018, based on multiple FIRs. The AgriGold Group had purportedly collected deposits from approximately 19 lakh customers and 32 lakh account holders. ED's investigation uncovered that the AgriGold Group operated a fraudulent Collective Investment Scheme disguised as a real estate business, for which over 130 shell companies were floated. These entities collected deposits as 'advances for plots' from unsuspecting depositors, despite not possessing commensurate land. Through this deceptive model, the accused lured millions of gullible individuals, accumulating vast deposits. These funds were subsequently diverted to various unrelated industries, including Power/Energy, Dairy, Entertainment, Health (Ayurvedic), and Farm Land Ventures, without the knowledge of depositors. The companies ultimately defaulted on their commitments to return deposits, either in cash or kind. Thousands of commission agents were employed by the AgriGold Group to entice investors, successfully collecting around Rs 6,380 crore from over 32 lakh investor accounts. During the PMLA investigation, the ED attached movable and immovable properties across various States, totaling approximately Rs 4,141.2 crore. The ED also arrested Avva Venkata Rama Rao, Avva Venkata Seshu Narayana Rao and Avva Hema Sundara Vara Prasad in December 2020. A prosecution complaint was subsequently filed against 14 accused persons and entities in February 2021. The court took cognizance of the money laundering offensc against all accused on August 29, 2023. A Supplementary Prosecution Complaint was filed on March 28, 2024, against 22 additional accused, with cognizance taken by the court on November 4, 2024. Earlier, in February 2025, the ED had restituted properties worth Rs 3,339 crore (with a present market value exceeding Rs 6,000 crore) in this case. With the latest restitution, the total value of properties returned to victims now stands at Rs 3,950 crore, with a present market value exceeding Rs 7,000 crore. This restitution exercise marks a significant achievement in the ED's ongoing efforts to restore properties to their rightful claimants and ensure that proceeds of crime are returned to those who have been defrauded.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh government extends IPS officer Sanjay's suspension
Vijayawada: The state govt ordered the extension of senior IPS officer N Sanjay's suspension for a further period of 180 days, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. This decision was formalised through a government order (GO) on Tuesday. N Sanjay, a 1996-batch IPS officer, was initially placed under suspension on Dec 3, 2024. The suspension was based on allegations of misappropriation and misuse of public funds during his tenure as director general of the Andhra Pradesh state disaster response and fire services. He is also accused of irregularities while serving as additional director general of police, AP CID, specifically concerning funds allocated for training police personnel on the rights of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989. A criminal case was registered by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) on Dec 24, 2024, under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation remains ongoing, with several witnesses yet to be examined and key documents pending collection, as per ACB. In light of the pending investigation and potential risk of the suspended officer influencing the process, the review committee, which met again on May 21, recommended the extension of the suspension. Acting on this advice, the state govt extended the suspension.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Time of India
SC reserves order on petitions challenging arrest in liquor scam
Vijayawada: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved orders in the petitions filed by Raj Kesireddy , one of the accused in the alleged liquor scam , and his father, Upendar Reddy, challenging his son's arrest and subsequent judicial remand in the case. They challenged the arrest and judicial remand on the ground that police did not follow due procedure in intimating the arrest. Upendar earlier filed a habeas corpus petition contending his son's arrest, arguing that the sections mentioned in the notice given at the time of arrest were different from those included in the remand report. He stated that police did not properly inform the grounds of arrest, which is illegal, and also did not obtain permission from the authority concerned on section 17A of Prevention of Corruption Act before filing of the FIR. Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, senior counsel Mahesh Jetmalani said Andhra Pradesh crime investigation dept (APCID) lacks jurisdiction to issue notices to Raj, who is a resident of another state. He said the reasons mentioned in the notice at the time of arrest were different from those included in the custody report produced before the trial court. Arguing on behalf of the state govt, senior counsel Siddharth Luthra said the objections raised in the petition ought to have been raised before the trial court at the time of producing the accused before the magistrate. He said the petitioners cannot approach the Supreme Court without raising these objections before the trial court. Considering the arguments, the bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan reserved orders and asked for written submissions to be submitted by Monday evening.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Applications invited for 28 home guard posts
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) issued a notification for the recruitment of 28 home guard positions . The department is inviting applications from eligible male and female candidates. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 50 years and should have completed at least an intermediate level of education. Additionally, candidates must possess computer literacy and a valid driving licence (either LMV or HMV). Applications will be accepted from May 1 to May 15, 2025. Interested candidates can submit their applications through the official AP CID website at For further details, candidates can contact the office at the phone number 94407 00860 during office hours.
