Sports Authority of Telangana State probe: How tip-off led to expose

HYDERABAD: It was an intelligence input from a constable that brought the alleged corrupt practices that flourished in the Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) to light. One of the complainants, hockey player Bharathchandra Reddy’s father Satyanarayana, who is working as a constable in the intelligence department, is learnt to have obtained some leads on illegal activities taking place in issuance of priority letters to candidates to get medical seats under sports quota. Last week, ACB officials arrested SATS deputy director Venkata Ramana and some other senior officials over charges of committing irregularities in giving priority letters to candidates.

“SATS staff members, who were not aware of Satyanarayana’s background, openly explained about alleged corrupt activities and offering of bribe to the senior officials to get favours,’’ sources said. Reddy and his family members had a tough time and were disappointed at learning that there were irregularities in assigning candidates to the priority list, and lodged the complaint. Thereafter, basing on the leads, intelligence officials kept a close vigil and tracked the movements of senior officials including Venkata Ramana and his associates, sources added.

A case was then filed and the ACB registered cases on directions from the government that was based on a report.It is also learnt that SATS had enjoyed a huge demand from parents of sportspersons who wanted to get priority letters to get seats in medical colleges under sports quota before the government introduced the National Eligibility Entrance Test, making it convenient for them to exploit their positions.

“The agency will file a petition before the court seeking custody of accused officer Venkata Ramana, who was arrested and is lodged in a jail, for questioning him by cross-checking facts stated with seized documents,’’ officials said.