‘Need solid evidence before taking action’: Chandrababu Naidu stresses evidence-based action on Adani bribery allegations

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said that the Photo voltaic Vitality Company of India’s (SECI) settlement to buy energy from the Adani Group advantages the state authorities, asserting that any motion on bribery allegations in opposition to the conglomerate will likely be primarily based on a meticulous overview of obtainable data.

Addressing the media on the Telugu Desam Occasion’s (TDP) headquarters in Mangalagiri on Wednesday, Naidu stated, “We are going to proceed as per authorized provisions after completely analyzing the data.”

On Tuesday, whereas talking in Vijayawada, he emphasised that the state authorities can’t annul contracts with out substantial proof of irregularities. “Canceling contracts with out clear proof may end in heavy penalties. We want strong proof earlier than taking any motion,” he defined.

This improvement follows over a month after U.S. authorities indicted Gautam Adani on costs of bribing Indian officers to safe profitable photo voltaic power contracts. Talking within the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Meeting on November 22, Naidu confirmed that his authorities had obtained the U.S. indictment report and warranted motion if any discrepancies have been found.

Reiterating his stand on governance, Naidu stated, “I’ll by no means interact in vindictive politics, however I cannot spare those that commit wrongdoing. Nobody, nonetheless highly effective, is above the regulation.”

He additionally criticised the earlier YSR Congress Occasion (YSRCP) authorities, led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing it of dismantling essential programs and stalling main initiatives similar to Amaravati and Polavaram. “The individuals suffered immensely through the YSRCP’s five-year rule on account of anarchic insurance policies. It triggered havoc with key infrastructure and improvement initiatives,” he added.

Naidu lauded the general public’s belief in his management, mirrored in what he known as a “historic verdict” that introduced the TDP-led coalition again to energy in 2024. He famous his proactive efforts since assuming workplace, together with a number of visits to New Delhi to safe central funds and resolve technical bottlenecks.

Taking a stern tone on on-line dissent, Naidu warned of strict measures in opposition to objectionable social media posts. “Individuals will see the identical willpower I confirmed as Chief Minister in 1995. Stringent motion will likely be taken in opposition to those that unfold objectionable content material on-line,” he cautioned.

The U.S. indictment in opposition to Adani alleges that he personally met a high-ranking Andhra Pradesh official, known as “International Official 1,” a number of occasions in 2021 to advance energy provide agreements between SECI and Andhra Pradesh’s state electrical energy distribution corporations. Whereas the official stays unnamed, filings by the U.S. Securities and Trade Fee recommend that Adani met with the state’s Chief Minister in August 2021. In the course of the interval from Could 2019 to June 2024, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy served as Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister.

In response, the YSR Congress Occasion has denied any direct agreements between the state’s energy distribution corporations and the Adani Group, asserting that the allegations are baseless.