For the last few days, pro-Telugu Desam Party media like Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy have been carrying a series of reports against alleged mining scam of former deputy mayor of Nellore and TDP leader P Roop Kumar Yadav.
Normally these media houses target the YSR Congress party led by former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. They have been digging out alleged scams and irregularities that took place during the previous Jagan government.
But as an exception, they are publishing stories against Roop Kumar, second-rank leader, who defected from the YSRCP to the TDP, along with Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, just a month before the elections.
While Vemireddy became an MP from Nellore, Roop Kumar is said to be involved in quartz mining activities using his proximity with the MP.
Surprisingly, Sakshi media house, which was attacking Vemireddy for defecting to the TDP, has somehow remained silent on the mining activities of Roop Kumar, who is said to be the uncle of YSRCP leader and former minister P Anil Kumar Yadav.
Since Roop Kumar is now the TDP and is undertaking clandestine mining activity, Sakshi should have targeted him. But not a single story was carried against him, though Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy have been carrying a series of stories against him.
Sources said Roop Kumar might have managed the local Sakshi people to see that the daily doesn’t carry any stories against him. For strange reasons known only to him, he could not manage the other two pro-TDP dailies.
A report carried in Andhra Jyothy recently highlighted how Roop Kumar’s influence is growing unchecked. Under the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime, there were large-scale illegal excavation of quartz and silica mines worth crores of rupees in the four quarries under his control.
With the coalition government now in power, the state decided to inspect all quartz and silica mines in the district. A detailed survey was conducted, and reports were submitted to the government.
However, officials avoided stepping into Roop Kumar’s quarries in the Saidapuram Mandal. Allegedly, a retired officer with ties to the Mines Department issued instructions to ensure this.
The previous Deputy Director, who had been handling the inspections, was transferred after the process was completed.
A new officer, Chandrasekhar, took charge on September 28. Roop Kumar reportedly requested Chandrasekhar to forward a file to Amaravati for permissions related to his quarries, but the latter insisted on inspections before any approvals.
However, taking advantage of Chandrasekhar’s absence on official duty, Roop Kumar allegedly used the Deputy Director’s digital signature through unauthorized means to get the file uploaded by a Mining Revenue Inspector.
When Chandrasekhar returned and realized what had happened, he was shocked and initiated inquiries. Suspecting potential threats, he surrendered his position to the government on November 30.
Further investigations revealed that during the YSRCP regime, significant illegal mining took place in Roop Kumar's quarries using fake permits from Telangana.
Fearing that detailed inspections could expose these irregularities, efforts were made to sideline officials who could pose a challenge.
Ultimately, senior authorities intervened, revoking the approvals granted to Roop Kumar’s quarries within days, thereby halting the illegal activities. This incident underscores the need for stricter oversight to prevent similar irregularities in the future.
