Former Gannavaram MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi is facing charges of illegal mining, land grabbing, extortion and other economic offences.
| Photo Credit: File Photo
The Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into the cases of illegal mining, land grabbing, extortion and other economic offences against former MLA and YSRCP leader Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan.
Mr. Vamsi is in judicial custody on charges of threatening a complainant in the TDP Gannavaram office attack case.
The government has appointed G.V.G.Ashok Kumar, IGP, Eluru Range as the head of the SIT, and K. Prathap Sivakishore, SP, Eluru District and D.Narasimha Kishore, SP, East Godavari, as the members.
The SIT can also coopt any other officers upon requesting the Director General of Police of Andhra Pradesh.
The SIT has been delegated with the powers to inquire, register, investigate and conclude the investigation according to the provisions of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. It can also call for any information and assistance from any person or officer, to record statement as per the provisions of the BNSS.
“Considering the severity of irregularities and the inquiry report of the Vigilance & Enforcement Department, the government has constituted the SIT for further investigation of the cases, said G.O.RT.No. 395 issued by Mukesh Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary, General Administration Department (Political), on Monday (February 24, 2025).
The Director General, Vigilance & Enforcement has submitted an inquiry report detailing the alleged illegal mining activities and land related offences in Gannavaram Assembly constituency.
“The report establishes that Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan had played a pivotal role in unlawful excavation of gravel and building stones in Krishna district by organising, financing and safeguarding these illicit operations through his network of close associates. These activities have resulted in a substantial revenue loss to the State estimated at approximately ₹195 Crore, and have caused significant environmental degradation,” according to the G.O.
“The report highlights that Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan, along with his associates, illegally acquired lands in Krishna district at minimal prices through coercion, threats, and other unlawful means and registered the lands in his own name and that of his benamis. Additionally, the Director General, Vigilance & Enforcement reported that Vallabaneni Vamsi Mohan and his associates were engaged in the illegal excavation of soil from Panakala Cheruvu, generating illicit gains of approximately ₹100 crore,” the government observed.
Published – February 25, 2025 05:10 am IST
