Liquor scam accused sheltered in Dubai flat linked to Telangana's phone tapping case suspect

Time of India

a day ago

Vijayawada: In a sensational twist to the ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam reportedly taking place during the YSRCP regime in Andhra Pradesh, fresh revelations have linked a key accused in the case to a prominent figure involved in a phone tapping scandal from Telangana.
Investigators from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) unearthed evidence that some of the prime accused in the liquor scam sought refuge in a high-end apartment in Dubai, allegedly owned by A. Shravan Rao—an accused in the Telangana phone tapping case.
The latest findings suggest a deeper nexus between two high-profile criminal investigations spanning Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with Dubai emerging as a common link between the accused.
Sources indicate that Shravan Rao's luxury flat in Dubai—estimated to yield around Rs 5 lakh per month in rental value—was not leased out for months. Instead, it reportedly served as a safe house for liquor scam accused Kiran Kumar and Chanakya, among others.
This arrangement allegedly began around December 2024, soon after the liquor scam began to be exposed.
The SIT also noted that Kiran Kumar traveled to Dubai at least 29 times since the liquor scam investigation began, raising further suspicion about the role of foreign shelter and possible hawala transactions.
Investigators believe that Shravan Rao shared a close relationship with Raj Kasireddy, the primary accused (A1) in the liquor scam. It is this association, officials believe, that allowed the accused to use the Dubai apartment as a hideout.
Raj Kasireddy was arrested at Shamshabad airport upon his return from Dubai. Following his apprehension, more details began surfacing about the role Dubai played as a base of operations and refuge for the accused.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials have now intensified their probe, particularly looking into whether any proceeds from the liquor scam were routed through Shravan Rao or used in acquiring the Dubai property.
The liquor scam itself rocked the state of Andhra Pradesh. According to the SIT's preliminary investigation, the scam involved the deliberate suppression of reputed liquor brands in the state to promote lesser-known labels linked to politically connected entities.
This manipulation allegedly resulted in a massive loss of Rs 3,200 crore to the state exchequer during the tenure of the previous government.
The probe also found that large sums of money earned through this scam were funneled out of the country using hawala networks. Dubai reportedly served as the primary offshore location for this illegal financial routing. The ED and SIT are now working in tandem to trace the complete money trail and identify all overseas assets purchased using scam proceeds.
Meanwhile, the investigation also revealed that the ill-gotten gains from the liquor scam were heavily invested in Telangana's real estate sector. Raj Kasireddy allegedly purchased 90 acres of land near an industrial corridor on the outskirts of Hyderabad for around Rs 150 crore. Of this, 60 acres were already sold at a profit, while the remaining 30 acres are reportedly held under various entities linked to Kasireddy.
The SIT is closely scrutinising these land transactions to determine whether they were part of a larger money laundering operation. They are also probing how the land was acquired, to whom it was sold, and how the funds from the sales were routed or reinvested. Additionally, authorities have identified high-value property purchases in prime Hyderabad locations by Raj Kasireddy and his associates, which are now under the scanner.
Efforts are underway to seize these assets as part of the ongoing investigation. Officials have confirmed that both immovable properties in Hyderabad and Dubai linked to the scam may be provisionally attached pending the outcome of the probe.
The emerging Dubai nexus and the involvement of individuals already accused in other high-profile scandals have added significant weight and complexity to the liquor scam investigation. The SIT and ED have reportedly expanded their scope to explore international money laundering angles and are expected to summon additional suspects in the coming days.