The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted searches at eight locations across Hyderabad, Jaipur and Coimbatore in connection with an alleged illegal sand-mining and money laundering case, seizing ₹1.53 crore in cash, silver bullion worth ₹1.29 crore, foreign currency and several incriminating documents.

The searches were carried out on May 26 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the offices of GCKC Projects and Works Pvt. Ltd., Prathima Infrastructure Ltd. and Turnkey Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., besides the residences of Boinipally Srinivas Rao, Ashok Kumar and V.G. Venkata Reddy in Hyderabad and Jaipur. Officials also searched a farmhouse linked to Srinivas Rao.

During the searches, officials seized ₹1.53 crore in Indian currency, 1,800 US dollars, silver bullion valued at around ₹1.29 crore, digital devices and documents related to movable and immovable assets allegedly held in the names of the accused persons and their family members.

According to the ED, the investigation stems from an FIR registered by the CIU of the Anti-Corruption Bureau in NTR district, Vijayawada, against V.G. Venkata Reddy, the then Director of Mines and Geology, along with Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd., Prathima Infrastructure Ltd. and GCKC Projects and Works Pvt. Ltd.

The FIR pertains to alleged irregularities in sand mining operations, including illegal excavation of sand and violations of tender conditions and agreements.

The ED said its investigation found that District Level Sand Committees constituted following Supreme Court directions had inspected sand reaches and detected large-scale violations by the companies involved.

According to the agency, the inspection reports revealed that sand was allegedly excavated beyond the permitted depth and also from areas outside the approved mining zones.

Based on these findings, the office of the Director of Mines and Geology had issued multiple show-cause notices and later demand notices against the companies concerned.

The ED stated that analysis of these notices showed that demand notices amounting to ₹2,407.70 crore had been raised against the three entities over the alleged illegal excavations. Further investigation is underway.