Hyderabad: Investigation into the titanium mining scam involving Congress MP K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao could open a can of worms, say sources.
The role of late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s brother Sudheekar Reddy, is also under the scanner as the FBI had allegedly indicated him to be “Individual C” in the indictment.
Scam accused P. Sundarlingam, was close to Mr Sudheekar Reddy, say sources. The FBI had stated that Bothli Trade AG, the company which got the lease to mine titanium in the North Andhra coast, had transferred bribes as investments to the company controlled by YSR’s relative (individual C) who is allegedly Mr Sudheekar Reddy.
FBI investigations found that at least $1 lakh were transferred into “individual C’s” companies from July 2009 to July 2010. It is also alleged that one of the accused, Mr Gajendra Lal, a resident of North Carolina in US, had travelled to New Delhi on August 3, 2009 and met “individual C” and discussed with him “the transfer of additional funds intended for use to bribe Indian public officials”.
Several companies had allegedly got funds from Dubai to India.
At least two firms Yash Fashion and Romtex Company appeared to have received funds and some of them were later disbursed, according to FBI records.
Yash Fashion LLC is a UAE company in Dubai-Bur Dubai. It sells gifts and related products. Romtex is a chemical company. Another firm, Eikon, is in the education sector.
The FBI alleged that approximately $2 lakh was transferred from Greensboro Corporation to Yash Fashion LLC in April 2006. Yash Fashion then received $3 lakh from Lovat Limited.
Another $5 lakh was transferred from Lovat to Eikon International Holding FZ LLC in June 2006. Around $20 lakh was transferred from Lovat Limited to Gobest International Limited in 2006 November.
Funds were transferred in 2007 and 2008 from Bothli Trade AG, a company related to Ukrainian tycoon Dmitry Firtasch, to Romtex Company Limited. Romtex sent money to Yash Fashion LLC from 2006 to 2008.
Transfer of funds from Romtex to Fashion Shop LLC and from Romtex to Rewa and Penta Traders also took place.
Similarly, a series of transfers were made from Bothli Trade AG to individual B. In 2009, there was a transfer of funds from Navasa Ventures Limited to Zahrat Al Khaleej.
