Serious allegations of large-scale corruption have surfaced in Andhra Pradesh’s electricity department.
There have been reports that since the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition came to power, the department has become a major source of illicit income for some influential figures.
According to sources, commissions are being collected in new power project allocations, coal purchases, and equipment procurements, with deals structured to benefit select companies. These malpractices are said to be an “open secret” in official circles.
According to highly placed sources, a team of the ruling party leaders reportedly close to a key cabinet minister, has been overseeing the collection of kickbacks from Delhi, Hyderabad, and Amaravati.
However, a rift has reportedly emerged between two ministers over the division of these illegal proceeds, particularly concerning commissions from coal procurement deals.
One of the ministers is described as a powerful figure who wields authority over multiple departments, while the other is linked to a senior bureaucrat managing the financial operations.
Sources allege that while the first minister’s network handled the bulk of collections, the second minister’s camp also began extracting “its share” from coal deals, leading to friction.
During a recent visit to Delhi, the senior minister was reportedly shown an account summary that stunned him — half the collections had allegedly gone to the team, while the other half remained unaccounted for. The issue has since reached Amaravati, triggering tensions within the cabinet.
Officials believe this could soon escalate into a major political confrontation between the two ministers. Meanwhile, bureaucratic circles are abuzz with talk that a top official close to the second minister has been orchestrating the operations.
According to internal estimates, the coal commission scam may involve sums upwards of Rs 200 crore, with each camp pocketing around Rs 100 crore.
Senior officials now expect that these details could emerge more concretely in the coming weeks, and speculate whether one of the ministers may be “sacrificed” to contain the fallout.
