Though arrested in different cases, three bureaucrats currently lodged in jail — Y. Srilakshmi, B.P. Acharya and K.V. Brahmananda Reddy — have all objected to the Enforcement Directorate’s petition to record their statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
They have argued that jail was not a conducive place to record statements and that they had no access to any documents there and had acted as per the routine businesses of their respective departments. Former director of mines V.D. Rajagopal had also filed his objections on May 30 on similar grounds.
In her objections, Ms Srilakshmi has stated that she had only dealt with files regarding granting of mining leases which she had forwarded to the minister. She said that the files had been sent to her by officers in the department as part of the department’s routine business.
In the OMC case, the ED had sought permission to record statements of the suspended IAS officers.
Meanwhile, industrialist Nimagadda Prasad, arrested in Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s illegal assets case and Sunil Reddy, arrested in the Emaar scam, have asked for more time to file their objections.
In the Jagan Mohan Reddy assets case, the ED wants the statements of Mr Prasad, IRAS officer K.V. Brahmananda Reddy and also of B.P. Acharya.