Adani bribery row: Jagan Reddy’s party leader says defector signed SECI papers

YSRCP leader Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy slammed former Andhra Pradesh power minister Balineni Srinivas Reddy for his baseless comments against Jagan Mohan Reddy. Chavireddy said Balineni’s remarks sounded like they were made to please someone, and asserted that Balineni, indeed, signed on the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) agreement papers.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Chavireddy said key documents related to the under-scrutiny electricity contract were sent to the Andhra Pradesh cabinet only after Balineni signed them.
Chevireddy refuted Balineni’s claim of having no involvement in the SECI agreement. He pointed out that Balineni signed important documents, including the energy committee file. He also reminded Balineni that on September 15, 2021, Andhra Pradesh government received the letter from SECI, and the details were explained in the cabinet by officials concerned.
Chevireddy explained that the SECI proposal was sent to the cabinet for review only after Balineni’s approval. An expert committee then studied the proposal and submitted a report, which led to the cabinet finalising the agreement with SECI.
The expert committee gave its report within a month.
Balineni, who quit the YSRCP on September 18 and later joined the Jana Sena Party, recently accused party president and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of wrongdoing.
Balineni’s claims were made in the context of bribery allegations against Jagan Reddy, related to a power purchase agreement with SECI, in which the Adani Group has stakes.
The YSRCP, on the other hand, defended its agreement to buy 7,000 MW of power from SECI at a total cost of Rs 1.05 lakh crore over 25 years. However, Balineni told a Telugu news channel that the deal was pushed through without proper procedures.
As the energy minister at the time, Balineni claimed he refused to sign the deal because he found it suspicious. Despite his objections, the cabinet approved the proposal in its next meeting, bypassing him.
Chavireddy rebutted these claims and said: “The cabinet agreed in principle on the SECI proposal and Balineni had signed that file. Later, a committee was formed to study the issue by the previous government. The report was submitted to the Cabinet by officials. It was then the cabinet agreed to the deal with SECI.”
In November 2021, Energy Secretary N Srikanth justified the agreement, saying the SECI’s Rs 2.45 per-unit rate was competitive compared to other solar energy project bids in Andhra Pradesh.
Chavireddy made similar arguments, saying: “While Chandrababu (Naidu) made the power purchase agreement at Rs 4.5 per unit, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government brought it down to Rs 2.45, which is 50 per cent less. This was done to provide quality power at a cheaper rate and to get more revenue for the state.”
“He should not be talking ill of the family that has given him a political career and if this is being done to win the favour of someone else, it is not a good sign,” Chavireddy said, adding: “Despite all forces coming together in a bid to character assassinate him, our leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will come clean.”
Balineni is Jagan Reddy’s relative and was Andhra Pradesh Minister of Energy, Forest and Environment, Science & Technology from April 2019 to June 2022.