Enforcement Directorate Attaches Assets Worth Rs 23 Crore in Andhra Skill Development Corporation Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets exceeding Rs 23 crore under the anti-money laundering law in connection with the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) Siemens Project case. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by the state CID in September last year during Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure as CM.

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On September 9, CID officials apprehended Naidu in Nandyala for his alleged involvement in the Rs 371-crore Skill Development Corporation scam. This incident occurred during his third term as CM from 2014 to 2019. The money laundering probe is linked to a CID FIR against Designtech Systems Private Limited (DTSPL) and others for misappropriating funds meant for the Siemens project.

Asset Attachment and Investigation Details

A provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was issued to attach properties, including bank deposits and shares, along with residential properties in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Pune. The total value of these assets is Rs 23.54 crore. The investigation revealed that Vikas Vinayak Khanvelkar, Managing Director of DTSPL, Soumyadri Sekhar Bose (alias Suman Bose), former MD of Siemens Industry Software India Pvt Ltd, and their associates Mukul Chandra Agarwal and Suresh Goyal diverted government funds through shell companies.

The funds were siphoned off using fake invoices under the guise of supplying materials or services. Entry providers were engaged to facilitate fund diversion, receiving commissions for their services. The ED had previously attached fixed deposits worth Rs 31.20 crore belonging to DTSPL as part of this investigation.

Legal Proceedings and Arrests

Khanvelkar, Bose, Agarwal, and Goyal were arrested by the ED, which filed a charge sheet before the special PMLA court in Visakhapatnam. Following his pre-dawn arrest on September 9, Naidu spent nearly two months in Rajamahendravaram central jail. However, he was granted interim bail on October 31, which became absolute on November 20.

This bail allowed Naidu to prepare for the 2024 elections and facilitated his return to the political arena. He joined the BJP-led NDA alliance alongside Janasena, aiming for a significant comeback.

The investigation continues as authorities scrutinise financial transactions and gather evidence against those involved in diverting public funds. The ED remains committed to uncovering the full extent of the alleged money laundering activities related to this case.