ACB zeroes in on bribe money financiers in cash-for-vote case

HYDERABAD: After preliminary analysis of call data records (CDR) of the accused, including jailed TDP MLA Revanth Reddy, in the cash-for-vote case, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials have identified certain people, mostly financiers, who might have arranged the Rs 50 lakh bribe paid to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson. ACB sleuths have reportedly started preparations for questioning them to unearth money trail.
ACB sources said that from Revanth Reddy's phone, over 150 CDRs were retrieved from the service provider and they have zeroed in on certain numbers, which officials suspect belong to people who have might have knowledge about the cash. It is learnt that these people include businessmen and financiers, who might have arranged the bribe money.
"CDR analysis of the arrested trio and a few other suspects was done several days ago. We have already gathered some evidence on the money trail and further proof is needed to substantiate it and prove the source from where the Rs 50 lakh bribe was arranged," an officer, who is part of the investigation, told TOI.
The role of some TDP MLAs and MPs did the rounds for arranging Rs 50 lakh as 'token amount', which Revanth had handed over to Stephenson. ACB officials are in the process of gathering more evidence to nail them.
The anti-corruption unit has already questioned TDP MLC nominee Vem Narender Reddy, but TDP MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah has been evading investigators citing health problems. Now, with the 10-day time sought by Veeraiah ending on Sunday, ACB officials might either send a reminder to Veeraiah, who represents the Sathupalle assembly constituency, or arm themselves with an arrest warrant. ACB sleuths believe that Veeraiah has knowledge about the cash-for-vote conspiracy, besides who arranged the money.
Meanwhile, Uday Simha, the accused number 3 in the cash-for-vote case, confessed that he evaded excise duty when the liquor bottles, which cops recovered from his house, were brought from other states to Hyderabad. He was in a two-day custody of prohibition and excise (P&E) officials in connection with 12 bottles of foreign liquor, including whiskey, scotch, and a few vodka bottles, being recovered from his home.
"Claiming to be an occasional drinker, Uday Simha claimed that he was ignorant of paying tax while bringing liquor from other states. He also failed to produce any receipts. However, ignorance of law cannot become an excuse. He will be charged for evading tax," Saroornagar station house officer, P&E, Venkateshwar Reddy told TOI.
TDP MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah has been evading investigators citing health problems. Now, with the 10-day time sought by Veeraiah ending on Sunday, ACB officials might send a reminder to him or issue an arrest warrant. ACB sleuths believe that Veeraiah has knowledge about the cash-for-vote conspiracy, besides who arranged the money