Andhra Pradesh Vigilance Department has reportedly submitted its inquiry report to the government on alleged irregularities in the ‘Aadudam Andhra’ sports initiative launched during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime.
According to sources, the report allegedly points to the involvement of former sports minister R K Roja and former Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) chairman Byreddy Siddharth Reddy, prompting the government to consider its next course of action.
The Vigilance inquiry, which was ordered after the coalition government came to power, reportedly found that Roja and Baireddy Siddharth Reddy played key roles in the alleged misuse of funds linked to the programme.
The department is said to have recommended the registration of criminal cases against both of them.
The report also reportedly suggested disciplinary action against Harshavardhan, then in-charge Managing Director of SAAP, then School Education Commissioner Suresh Kumar, IAS officer Dhyanchand and retired IAS officer Vani Mohan.
In addition, Vigilance officials are understood to have recommended action against personnel working in SAAP’s IT wing, alleging that they had fully cooperated in the irregularities.
The inquiry reportedly found irregularities in several aspects of the programme, including procurement of sports equipment, acommodation for participants, food arrangements for players and event-level expenditure claims
The ‘Aadudam Andhra’ programme was initially launched with an estimated outlay of Rs 40 crore, but the total expenditure reportedly crossed Rs 100 crore by the time it concluded, raising suspicions even at the time.
There were allegations that the initiative was used more as a politically driven mass mobilisation exercise than as a genuine grassroots sports programme.
Following complaints from MLAs after the coalition government assumed office, the state ordered a detailed Vigilance probe.
As part of the inquiry, officials reportedly examined more than 600 locations and questioned hundreds of individuals, before compiling a report running into nearly 30,000 pages.
Sources said the Vigilance Department concluded that nearly Rs 40 crore was misused under the programme.
The inquiry also reportedly found that many winners in the competitions were allegedly YSRCP activists, raising further concerns over the neutrality and integrity of the programme.
With the Vigilance report now said to be in the government’s hands, the state is likely to order a formal criminal investigation through either the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) or the CID.