Chandrababu: Proof Required to Cancel SECI Power Contracts
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Amaravati, Jan 2 (NationPress) - Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh asserted on Thursday that the state government is unable to annul power purchase agreements with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) unless there is solid proof supporting the bribery claims.
The remarks from the Chief Minister arose following last month’s decision by Andhra Pradesh Power Distribution Companies to acquire over 4,000 million units of electricity from SECI, part of a total of 17,000 MU agreed for the upcoming financial year.
Naidu emphasized that SECI's agreement to procure power from the Adani Group is beneficial for Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister highlighted that no measures will be taken against Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) regarding the bribery allegations until “concrete proof” is established.
He stressed that action against anyone can only be taken after thoroughly verifying the documentary evidence. This was in response to inquiries from the press about his inaction towards certain individuals.
“I never engage in political vendettas. However, I will not overlook wrongdoers,” he stated.
“We are currently gathering appropriate documentation, and once we have that, we will act if any corruption is found. Immediate cancellation of the MoUs could result in legal troubles and unnecessary complications,” Chandrababu Naidu explained during an informal discussion with reporters at the TDP headquarters.
The Adani Group has denied the allegations.
While the US indictment does not specifically name any official, filings from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suggest that “Mr. Adani met with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh during that period”. During the timeframe from May 2019 to June 2024, the Chief Minister was YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The Adani Group has also indicated that the US indictment has been misunderstood due to “incorrect” reporting about the bribery allegations, asserting that it provided no evidence of any alleged bribery exchange.
“The unfounded actions from the US and reckless misleading reports have led to severe consequences for the Indian conglomerate, including international project cancellations, impacts on financial markets, and sudden scrutiny from strategic partners, investors, and the public,” the Adani Group stated.
Meanwhile, the YSR Congress Party, rejecting the bribery allegations, clarified that the agreement was made between the state government, Discoms, and SECI, which is a central government entity, and that no third party was involved.
