Hyderabad: Stepping up its offensive against Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government in Andhra Pradesh, the Opposition Congress on October 21 sought President A P J Abdul Kalam's intervention in ordering a judicial probe into the alleged payment of kickbacks in a private power project deal in the state.

Claiming that there was 'documentary evidence' for payment of Rs 3 crore kickbacks to an unnamed 'Big Boss' by Konaseema Power Corporation Limited, owned by TDP MP's relatives, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Y S Rajasekhar Reddy urged the President to direct the Centre and state governments to order an inquiry into the matter.

"Since National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government lacks Constitutional determination to order inquiry for fear of antagonising its ally, we request you to invoke powers under Article 53 (1) and order a judicial inquiry and also action under Prevention of Corruption Act," he said in a letter addressed to the President.

The Opposition leader urged Kalam to order judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of Supreme Court or High Court and a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe to ascertain facts and identify the recipient of the illegal payment.

Quoting from an internal correspondence of the company, Reddy alleged that the Director of Konaseema Power Corporation M S Rama Rao, son of TDP MP from Visakhapatnam M V V S Murthy, had admitted to having paid Rs 3 crore to 'Big Boss' before the 1999 general elections "in return for some official favours".

The company had, however, denied the charge and dubbed the letter, said to have been written by its Director, as a forged one.

PTI