350 Cr Soil Scam Shakes Vijayawada Politics

A massive political storm is brewing in Vijayawada after former MP Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani lodged a formal complaint with the Enforcement Directorate, seeking a PMLA probe into what he described as a ₹350 crore illegal soil mining and money laundering scam.

In his complaint, Nani accused Vijayawada MP Kesineni Chinni of being the “mastermind” behind an organised “matti mafia” allegedly involved in the large-scale plundering of soil from the Polavaram Right Main Canal and the Budameru Diversion Channel.

According to the complaint, the operation began with a small official permission to excavate just 5,000 cubic metres of soil near the 167.040 km marker.

But Nani alleged that the syndicate later went far beyond the permitted limit and illegally dug out more than two lakh cubic metres of soil, causing massive loss to the public exchequer.

Nani claimed that this was not a small irregularity, but a full-fledged criminal network involving political backing, field-level operatives, transport contractors and cash handlers.

He named Mr. Khan and former corporator Kaaku Mallikarjun as the initial operators who allegedly turned a minor permit into a large illegal mining enterprise.

The complaint further alleged that the field execution was handled by Mulpuri Kishore, Dasari Jagadish, and associates Polavarapu Sukumar and Polavarapu Kalyan.

Transportation and smuggling of the excavated soil were allegedly managed by contractors Chitti Babu and Buddy.

The former MP also accused the group of illegally digging up canal embankments and bunds with heavy machinery operating day and night.

He claimed the stolen soil was transported without valid waybills or mining passes and sold directly to private Amaravati contractors.

In one of the most serious allegations, Nani said the illegal proceeds were layered and distributed through a cash network allegedly managed by the MP’s personal cashier, Kodada Ramesh.

He identified Flat No. 301, Ravuri Vista Apartment, Guru Nanak Colony in Vijayawada, as the alleged operational hub where the syndicate repeatedly met to manage collections, distribute bribes and layer proceeds.

Nani also alleged that the scam involved money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and urged the ED to immediately conduct raids, freeze benami accounts and investigate all those linked to the operation.

The complaint also referred to an alleged attack on local social activist Jamalaiah of Kothur Tadepalli village, who had reportedly questioned the destruction of canal bunds and public property. Nani claimed that the activist was assaulted and threatened by the syndicate’s men.

He further alleged that even after mining permissions were technically cancelled on March 5 following public outcry, the operation continued for weeks because of political pressure and the inaction of local police, revenue and irrigation officials.

Nani said mainstream Telugu media outlets like Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy had already exposed the soil mining racket and argued that the matter now requires immediate intervention from central agencies.

The allegations have added a fresh twist to the bitter feud between Nani and Chinni, with the latest complaint threatening to turn their political fight into a major legal and corruption battle.

Whether the ED acts on the complaint now remains to be seen, but the charges have already triggered intense discussion in Andhra Pradesh political circles.