Rice exports increase from Kakinada port

TDP leaders' allegations cast suspicion on impartiality of 3 DSPs; they may be replaced with SP rank officials

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Vijayawada

THE State government has decided to reconstitute the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the illegal export of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice following allegations against three of its members.

The allegations against DSPs T Ashok Vardhan, M Balasundara Rao and R Govinda Rao seem to have cast suspicion on their impartiality during the probe.

The SIT, originally constituted on December 6 under the leadership of CID IGP Vineet Brijlal, comprised six members. However, reports submitted by TDP leaders from Darsi, Chirala and Vizianagaram claim that the three DSPs were politically biased towards the YSRCP during the recent general elections.

Allegations being levelled against Ashok Vardhan were that he supported the YSRCP in Darsi constituency, working against TDP candidate Gottipati Lakshmi. Similarly, Balasundara Rao was accused of aiding YSRCP candidate in Chirala against TDP contestant Madduluri Malakondaiah Yadav. On the other hand, Govinda Rao allegedly maintained close ties with former minister and YSRCP MLC Botcha Satyanarayana, influencing the elections in Vizianagaram.