Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh former Labour Minister and TDLP Deputy Leader K. Atchannaidu was taken into custody by the ACB slethes on Friday wee hours at Nimmada Village in Tekkali constituency in Srikakulam district. The ACB slethes took him into custody in the ESI scam of Rs. 150 crores in purchasing the medicines and medical kits and other furnitures to the ESI hospitals in the state.

The ACB slethes also arrested the former ESI Director Ramesh Kumar on Friday at Tirupati. The ACB officials brought the former Minister Atchannaidu and the ESI Director Ramesh Kumar to Vijayawada on Friday.

The ACB officials are going to produce Atchannaidu and Ramesh Kumar in the ACB Court in Vijayawada. The former Minister Atchannaidu recommended tele-health care services Pvt.ltd Company to purchase the medicines for ESI hospitals in his letter head. The ESI scam was run by the three companies i.e. tele- medi, Avanthar and Legend companies.

These three companies are involved in Rs. 85 crores scam on the purchasing of medicines on abnormal excess rates than the original rates; it came into the light in the vigilance enquiry. And also there is an information that one person involved in the scam by operating 42 companies.