Latest news with #SheepRearingDevelopmentScheme
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana Sheep Distribution Scheme funds transferred to individuals without prior history in livestock trade: ED
The funds meant for beneficiaries under Telangana government's Sheep Rearing Development Scheme (SRDS) were transferred to individuals who, prior to the launch of the scheme, had no history of involvement in the livestock trade. This was one of the findings of the Directorate of Enforcement's (ED) probe into the large-scale financial irregularities in the scheme. The ED teams carried out search operations at eight locations across Hyderabad on Wednesday (July 30, 2025) as part of its investigation. The raids were conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Among the premises searched was that of G. Kalyan Kumar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to former Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav. The agency also searched locations linked to several beneficiaries and middlemen flagged during the investigation. The raids yielded evidence, including documents suggesting illegal kickbacks to public officials. Seized items included blank chequebooks, passbooks, debit cards linked to over 200 suspected mule accounts, and documents tied to an illegal online betting application. Investigators also recovered 31 used mobile phones and more than 20 SIM cards believed to have been used in the operations. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for the financial year ending March 2021 further exposed a litany of irregularities in the scheme's implementation. These included the absence of beneficiary records, fake invoices, payments made against non-transport vehicle registration numbers, allocation of sheep units to deceased or non-existent individuals, and instances of sheep units being recycled to fraudulently claim government subsidies. The audit, limited to just seven of Telangana's 33 districts, pegged the loss at ₹253.93 crore. The ED noted that if extrapolated across the state, the total loss could exceed ₹1,000 crore. The ED's probe stems from multiple FIRs registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Hyderabad. One of them alleged that following the change in government, the OSD to the ex-minister forcibly removed records from the department's office. Another complaint, filed by a sheep merchant, claimed that ₹2.1 crore owed for the supply of sheep was siphoned off by departmental officials and diverted to unrelated accounts. Further investigation is ongoing.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Telangana sheep 'scam': ED recovers 200 'mule' accounts after raids
New Delhi/Hyderabad, The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has seized passbooks, debit cards and cheque books belonging to more than 200 'mule' bank accounts following raids in a money laundering case linked to an alleged sheep rearing and distribution scam worth crores of rupees that allegedly took place in Telangana during the previous BRS regime. Telangana sheep 'scam': ED recovers 200 'mule' accounts after raids These bank accounts, as per a statement issued by the central agency, are linked to an illegal betting app. The agency claimed it also recovered materials that indicate "kickbacks" being paid to some government officials and others. The probe stems from Telangana Police Anti-Corruption Bureau FIRs of December 2023. The ACB arrested four government officers in February 2024. The Sheep Rearing Development Scheme was launched by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government in the southern state in April 2017 to provide a sustainable livelihood to shepherd families and boost their income. Eight locations in the city related to beneficiaries and alleged middlemen involved in the scam, including the premises of G Kalyan, Officer on Special Duty to former BRS minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav, were raided on July 30 by the ED as part of the case booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act . An ACB FIR alleged that after the formation of the new government in the state , OSD Kalyan had removed some records from the department office by breaking-in the premises. Another FIR was registered by a sheep merchant alleging that ₹2.1 crore, which was due to be paid to them for supplying sheep units, was siphoned off by the departmental assistant directors, as per the ED. The agency said its probe found that "substantial" funds were transferred to the bank accounts of several persons/entities in lieu of supply of sheep for beneficiaries under the SRDS. Prior to the launch of the SRDS, these beneficiaries were not involved in the business of sale or supply of sheep and the recipients of these funds had never done sale or purchase of this category of livestock. The probe found that government funds were "illegally diverted" to the bank accounts of bogus vendors. According to the agency, a CAG Audit Report for the period ended March-2021 found several irregularities in the implementation of the SRDS scheme like non-maintenance of beneficiary wise details, improper record of invoices pertaining to transportation invoices and payments, payments against invoices containing fake/ passenger vehicles/ non-transport vehicle registration numbers, duplicate tags allotted to sheep units, sheep units allotted to dead/non-existent persons etc. The CAG's audit report is limited to only seven districts wherein an estimated loss to the government was pegged at ₹253.93 crore. "On a proportionate basis for all the 33 districts in the entire state of Telangana, the loss is likely to exceed ₹1,000 crore," the ED claimed. The agency said its investigation also substantiated the findings of the CAG audit. The documents related to numerous bank accounts, including blank cheque books, passbooks and debit cards associated with over 200 suspected dummy/mule accounts linked to an illegal online betting application, were recovered from one of the premises, it said. A total of 31 used mobile phones and over 20 SIM cards were also seized, the agency said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
ED links Rs 1,000 crore sheep scam to illegal betting app; 200 dummy accounts, 31 phones seized
HYDERABAD: In a recent finding, ED searches have uncovered links between the sheep scam and an illegal online betting app. The ED seized documents related to numerous bank accounts, including blank cheque books, passbooks, and debit cards associated with over 200 suspected dummy or mule accounts linked to an illegal online betting application. These were recovered from one of the premises. Searches also led to the seizure of 31 used mobile phones and over 20 SIM cards, which are suspected to have been used in operating the illegal activities. On 30 July, the ED conducted searches at eight locations in Hyderabad under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, in connection with financial irregularities in the implementation of the Sheep Scheme in Telangana. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The ED investigation revealed that substantial funds were transferred to the bank accounts of several individuals and entities as payments for the supply of sheep under the Sheep Rearing Development Scheme (SRDS). The ED estimated the scam to be worth around Rs1,000 crore. The investigation found that, before the launch of SRDS, these beneficiaries were not involved in the sale or supply of sheep. It was also found that they never made any such transactions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Celebrity Mugshot Hall Of Shame As Stars Isolated in Jail Instead Of Luxury Mansions Undo The ED concluded that government funds were illegally diverted to the bank accounts of bogus vendors. Searches were conducted at the premises of G Kalyan Kumar (OSD to the then Animal Husbandry Minister Thalasani Srinivasa Yadav), along with certain beneficiaries and middlemen identified during the investigation. In one FIR by the ACB, it was alleged that after the new government was formed in the state, the OSD to the former minister removed some records from the department office by breaking in. Another FIR was filed by a sheep merchant, who alleged that Rs 2.1 crore due to them for supplying sheep units was siphoned off by departmental Assistant Directors, who diverted the amount to unrelated accounts. In addition, the CAG's audit report for the period ending March 2021 revealed several irregularities in the implementation of the SRDS scheme, such as: No record of beneficiary-wise details Improper maintenance of transport-related invoices and payments Payments made against invoices with fake or non-transport vehicle registration numbers Duplicate tags allotted to sheep units Sheep units allotted to dead or non-existent persons The CAG audit covered only 7 out of 33 districts in Telangana and estimated the loss at Rs 253 crore. On a proportionate basis, the loss across the entire state could exceed Rs 1,000 crore. The ED's investigation also confirmed the audit findings, showing that payments were made to fictitious vendors and that there was evidence of recycling sheep units to fraudulently claim disbursements from government funds without actual supply. The search operations led to the recovery and seizure of incriminating material showing illegal payments in the form of kickbacks to various government officials and other suspects.
Hans India
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
ED raids former Minister's OSD in sheep distribution scam
Hyderabad: Former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav's former OSD G Kalyan Kumar was taken into custody by ED officials based on the FIR registered by the ACB alleging a Rs 700 crore scam in the Sheep Rearing Development Scheme (SRDS) in December 2023. ED officials conducted searches in eight locations of Hyderabad, including Kalyan's residence. Several key documents and a huge amount of cash were seized in these searches. Kalyan was reportedly questioned for about 7 hours. This case related to financial irregularities in the sheep distribution scheme implemented during the previous government's tenure. As per ACB, misuse of Rs 700 crore took place in this scheme. Kalyan Kumar, along with Telangana Livestock Development Agency CEO Sabavat Ramchander, are accused of diverting huge funds in the name of fake beneficiaries. Several officials and middlemen have already been arrested in this case. The ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is probing the financial transactions. The ACB has found that huge funds were transferred to fake accounts in this scheme. At least eight locations in the city related to beneficiaries and alleged middlemen involved in the scam, including the premises of Kalyan, were covered as part of the operation conducted under the PMLA Act. The SRDS was launched by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government in April 2017 to provide a sustainable livelihood to shepherd families and boost their income.
NDTV
30-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Central Agency Conducts Raids Over Telangana Sheep Distribution 'Scam'
Hyderabad: A wolf in sheep's clothing - that is what the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government's flagship welfare initiative to provide sheep at 75 per cent subsidy has turned out to be. The scheme was meant to benefit poor shepherd families, create livelihood and improve rural economy. But the Comptroller and Auditor General has found misappropriation of funds through massive irregularities. The CAG had flagged the issue in 2021, after which Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau filed a case based on which the Enforcement Directorate filed its ECIR (ED's FIR). Today, the Enforcement Directorate launched extensive raids across eight locations in Hyderabad to probe what is now infamous as the alleged Rs 700-crore scam in sheep distribution when the BRS was in power. Searches were conducted as part of a wider money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act --examining the money trail of suspected beneficiaries, middlemen and others linked to the Sheep Rearing Development Scheme. The raids targeted premises of G Kalyan who served as OSD to the animal husbandry minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, and also Ramchandra Naik, who was director of Telangana Livestock Development Agency, middlemen and prime accused Mohiduddin and his son Ikramuddin. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has already arrested 17 people in connection with the case. The ED's probe stems from multiple FIRs registered by the state police, which initially flagged the proceeds of crime amount of around Rs 2.1 crore. The Comptroller and Auditor General, auditing the scheme for just seven of Telangana's 33 districts up to March 2021, has revealed a significantly larger financial loss to the government, estimated at over Rs 253 crore in those seven districts alone. On a proportionate basis, the ED suspects the total loss across the entire state could exceed Rs 1,000 crore. The CAG audit highlighted numerous irregularities, including missing details of beneficiaries, improper records of transportation invoices, payments made against fake, passenger, or non-transport vehicle registration numbers, issue of duplicate sheep tags, "allotment" of units of 20 sheep and a ram to deceased or non-existent individuals. NDTV had reported, as an example, how the records had claimed that a bike had transported 126 sheep, a car had carried 168 sheep and an ambulance took 84 sheep to their destination. The Sheep Rearing Development Scheme was launched in 2017 with the aim of supplying sheep on 75 per cent subsidy. It reportedly involved the distribution of over 1.28 crore sheep at a cost of approximately Rs 4,980.31 crore. Of these, around 82.74 lakh sheep were purportedly procured from other states and distributed to 3.92 lakh members of Primary Sheep Breeders Co-operative Societies. However, subsequent investigations, including by the ACB and now the ED, suggest that substantial amounts were allegedly misappropriated through inflated procurement bills, fictitious transportation records, and the use of benami accounts. In June 2024, the ED registered a money laundering case and has since been collecting documents from the animal husbandry department and the Telangana State Sheep and Goat Development Cooperative Federation, including beneficiary lists, vendor details, transport records, and payment files.
