The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at seven locations across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as part of a money laundering investigation into alleged irregularities in the evaluation of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) Group-I Mains answer scripts.
The searches included premises linked to retired IPS officer P.S. Sitarama Anjaneyulu, who served as the APPSC Secretary during the period under investigation.
Camsign Media Under Investigation
- The investigation concerns alleged irregularities in the manual evaluation of Group-I Mains answer scripts. The work was reportedly entrusted to Camsign Media Pvt. Ltd., whose Managing Director is P. Madhusudhana Rao.
- According to investigating agencies, an amount of approximately ₹1.14 crore was allegedly paid to a private party in connection with the evaluation process.
- The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on an earlier criminal investigation by Andhra Pradesh Police and findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Seven Locations Searched
The ED operation covered six locations in Hyderabad and surrounding areas and one location in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
The reported search locations included:
- Premises linked to P.S. Sitarama Anjaneyulu at Khasimbowli.
- Camsign Media’s office in Panchavati Colony, Banjara Hills.
- Residence of its Managing Director P. Madhusudhana Rao in Erramanzil.
- TruGrader Services premises in Defence Colony, Secunderabad.
- Premises linked to Akella Peri Srinivasa Rao in Neredmet.
- Premises linked to Mahamkali Raghuram in Venkatapuram, Alwal.
- Aavasa Resort Haailand at Chinakakani in Guntur district, where the evaluation exercise was allegedly conducted.
SIT Investigation and Alleged Irregularities
According to reports on the SIT investigation, the answer scripts allegedly remained with the private agency for 84 days. Investigators also alleged that 66 persons who were not qualified evaluators were engaged to transfer predetermined marks onto Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets without conducting an actual evaluation.
The alleged misuse of public funds exceeding ₹1.14 crore is among the financial aspects being examined by the agencies.
Defence Position
- Anjaneyulu’s defence has maintained that the decision to conduct manual evaluation was taken collectively and in compliance with directions issued by the High Court. It has also stated that the resort was selected for logistical and security reasons.
- The ED searches form part of an ongoing investigation. The allegations against the individuals and organisations concerned have not been established as guilt by a court.
Business Galaxy will continue to follow developments in the investigation.
