AP Fibernet paid ₹2.15 crore to RGV for Vyuham movie: G.V. Reddy

APSFL Chairman alleges irregularities, exorbitant payments to RGV, mismanagement leading to debt, and commitment to increase Fibernet connections.

Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet Limited (APSFL) Chairman G.V. Reddy has alleged that ₹2.15 crore was paid to film director Ramgopal Varma (RGV) for his Vyuham movie streamed on the AP Fibernet at a rate of ₹11,000 per view as per an agreement. The movie had just 1,863 views, but the money paid was exorbitant, he said at a press conference here on Thursday. 

Mr. Reddy said the payout to RGV was one of the several irregularities committed in APSFL during 2019-24 to the detriment of the public exchequer. Several persons were recruited in blatant violation of norms, he said, while expressing his commitment to increase the number of AP Fibernet connections to 50 lakh in two years. 

He pointed out that the number of connections, which was 10 lakh before the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) came to power in 2019, fell by half in the last five years in spite of the tremendous scope for growth.

Mr. Reddy said the TDP Government of 2014-19 had paid ₹40 lakh towards salaries to 108 employees per month compared to ₹4 crore to 1,360 employees. The present government would have an inquiry done by the Vigilance Department into the whole of the affairs of APSFL between 2019-24, he said.

The mismanagement of APSFL caused its debt to pile up to a staggering ₹1,262 crore. APSFL was set up in 2016 at a cost of ₹3,580 crore, whereas the expenditure incurred by it during the YSRCP regime stood at ₹6,800 crore, Mr. Reddy said.