Will KVP Ramachandra Rao, the Chanakya who ruled roost during the YSR regime, be brought under the scanner in the ongoing CBI inquiries? That’s the million dollar question the Congressmen themselves are posing.
KVP was the Advisor to Government of Andhra Pradesh on Public Affairs with cabinet rank (May 2004-March 2008) under Rajasekhara Reddy. He was the eyes and ears of YSR and it was public knowledge that not a file moved in the government without KVP’s specific instructions.
YSR never involved himself in the day-to-day affairs of the government. He trusted KVP so much that any paper that his soul-mate approved would be automatically get the CM’s signature.
It is but natural to presume that KVP is the brain behind all the alleged scams that benefited Jagan or Gali Janardhana Reddy or Emaar. With regard to Jagan and Gali, he himself was not a beneficiary personally. But in Emaar, his co-brother (Viyyankudu) is involved in the case, having ‘bought’ one villa and four plots at Boulder Hills.
However, CBI might not be able to get hold of KVP in most of these cases as it would be tough to prove his connivance in the deals. Unlike the Ministers and the officials who are bound by the Constitutional responsibilities, an advisor to the government does not come under this purview, as his ‘advice’ need not be accepted by the Ministers or departments concerned. The reality, of course, was different.
It is also known that KVP never committed himself on paper with regard to any decision, and hence it would be difficult to get any incriminating evidence against the man behind the screen.
The only case where he might be in trouble is the Emaar case, wherein his co-brother appears to have been benefited out of turn. K Raghurama Krishnam Raju claims that he bought the plots at Rs 5,000 per square yard, but the other buyers have already admitted to the CBI that actual price was anywhere between Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per yard and was paid in black.
It is to be seen whether the long hand of law will reach the once-most-powerful man in the government. In such a scenario, a lot more skeletons than imagined might tumble out of YSR’s cupboard.
