In what is being seen as big relief to the Congress Rajya Sabha MP KVP Ramachandra Rao in the titanium mining scam case, an Austrian judgein Europe has reportedly rejected the US requests for the extraditionof a Ukranian billionaire Dmitri V Firtash to USA. According to US federal indictment in April 2013, KVP, Firtash and four others teamed up in paying $18.5 million to the officials of AP government as bribes.
Arrest warrant issued
This was allegedly for securing licences to mine precious mineraltitanium in the agency areas of Vizag and Srikakulam which would have generated more than $500 million per annum due to the sale of the titanium products. After the US court order, an arrest warrant had been issued for the five accused and for KVP, the Interpol had issueda red corner notice for the leader’s arrest as well as extradition to the US.
KVP as the top most corrupt person
Apart from this case not going slow in Austria, sources say that AP CM Chandrababu Naidu who is bête noire of late YSR and who had openly accused KVP as the top most corrupt person and cheater is no longershowing any interest in hastening the process of KVP’s extradition toUS. Had Naidu shown the same spirit in deeds as much as words, by nowstrong action would have been taken against this former confidant ofYSR during 2004-09.
Naidu Congress leadership
But now this approach by Naidu is sowing doubts among TDP fans and cadre as well and there is a suspicion whether Congress high command had struck a compromise with Naidu. If such a compromise was indeed arrived, it may not be seen as a surprise because there exists cordial relations between leaders of even rival parties and Naidu-Congress leadership link is known well right from mid 90s.
