logo
The alleged ‘liquor scam' in Andhra Pradesh – who got the money, and how?

The alleged ‘liquor scam' in Andhra Pradesh – who got the money, and how?

Indian Express16-05-2025
The Andhra Pradesh government has accused its predecessor YSR Congress regime of corruption to the tune of more than Rs 3,000 crore in a liquor policy that it introduced in the state in 2019.
Between Rs 3,200 crore and Rs 3,500 crore were received as kickbacks from liquor manufacturers in the alleged 'scam', according to the remand report and an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court by an Andhra Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 27.
The 'kingpin' of the scam, the SIT has alleged, was Kasireddy Rajasekhar Reddy alias Raj Kasireddy, who was IT Advisor to former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party leader Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Other big names linked to the investigation include the former Rajya Sabha MP Vijaya Sai Reddy, a founding member of the YSRCP who announced his retirement from active politics last year, and P V Midhun Reddy, the three-time MP from Rajampet, who is the YSRCP floor leader in Lok Sabha.
The YSRCP has accused the Telugu Desam Party government of a witch hunt, and said that the SIT has found no material evidence against any accused.
What was the alleged scam?
Before the Andhra Pradesh Assembly election of 2019, the YSRCP had promised a ban on liquor in phases, and to discourage the consumption of alcohol by increasing its price.
After coming to power, the YSRCP government formulated a new liquor policy that came into effect at the end of 2019, with the goal of ultimately facilitating a ban on liquor.
Instead, the liquor policy encouraged a money-laundering racket that flourished until 2024, according to the SIT, which was formed by the TDP government of N Chandrababu Naidu that unseated the YSRCP in June last year.
The policy allegedly led to the suppression of premium brands of liquor and the proliferation of certain new local brands, which were given undue market share and a competitive advantage over the competition.
Who allegedly got the money?
The SIT has alleged that the proprietors of the new brands gave Rs 65 crore to Rs 70 crore every month to Raj Kasireddy in return for getting an undue share in the market. The money was allegedly passed on to the YSRCP leadership, the remand report says.
'The money basically went into funding the party (YSRCP),' Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayulu, the MP from Narasaropet and the floor leader of the TDP in Lok Sabha, told The Indian Express. Devarayulu was the YSRCP MP from Narasaropet from 2019 and 2024, when the scam allegedly unfolded.
According to the SIT's investigation, about 20 people including senior YSRCP leaders were involved in the alleged money laundering. Raj Kasireddy was arrested in April. Leaders such as Midhun Reddy have obtained anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court.
What does the YSRCP have to say?
The YSRCP has rejected the investigation as 'fabricated' and 'lacking credible evidence'. The alleged scam is 'entirely fictitious, relying solely on coerced statements obtained through police harassment', the party has said.
The YSRCP has alleged that former Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited officials such as Vasudeva Reddy, and lower-level employees including Satya Prasad and Anusha, were threatened into giving false testimonies.
'The SIT has failed to produce any financial trail, forensic proof, or documentary evidence to substantiate its allegations,' the YSRCP said in an official statement to The Indian Express.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MC submits ATR in parking scam
MC submits ATR in parking scam

Time of India

time13 minutes ago

  • Time of India

MC submits ATR in parking scam

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh municipal corporation (MCC) has submitted a detailed action taken report (ATR) to the UT administration in a high-stakes financial default case involving the city's paid parking contractor. The report, which will be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), outlines a series of criminal and departmental actions — including four arrests — following a staggering Rs 7.26 crore default in license fees and Rs 16 lakh in unpaid stamp duty. The MC has also informed that lapses were found on the part of the then additional municipal commissioner, an HCS officer. The CBI has asked for permission from the competent authority under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). The MC said for the recovery of the licence fee, the case is ongoing in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The CAG also flagged this financial loss in its audit para. The MC stated, "This office issued prosecution sanction in respect of Monil Chauhan, superintendent Gr II, MC, Chandigarh, as requested by the CBI. It is also stated that the Department of Personnel, Chandigarh Administration, forwarded the copy of a letter received from the Department of Personnel Chief Secretary's Office, Govt of Haryana, to supply the detailed para-wise comments along with specific recommendations on the letter issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Govt of India, Anti-Corruption Branch, Sector 30-A, Chandigarh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You will never turn off your computer again. Undo It has been intimated that a case was registered in CBI, ACB, Chandigarh, under section 120/B read with 420 IPC against (i) Ram Sunder Prasad Singh, sole proprietor of M/s Ram Sunder Prasad Singh, (ii) M/s Pashchatya Entertainment (P) Ltd, (iii) Sanjay Sharma, Director of M/s Pashchatya Entertainment (P) Limited, (iv) Vikas Pandey, authorised signatory of M/s Pashchatya Entertainment (P) Limited, and unknown public servant on the basis of a complaint submitted by Sachin Singh, Sub Inspector, CBI, ACB, who conducted the Preliminary Enquiry in the matter." The reply further reads, "It is further mentioned in the said letter that in the said case, investigation conducted so far revealed certain issues/lapses with regard to the execution of the lease deed by the two private contractors on the part of SK Jain, the then Additional Commissioner, MC, Chandigarh. The CBI authorities requested that permission under section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), in respect of the said officer be obtained from the competent authority and conveyed to their office for conducting an investigation with regard to the role of these officers/officials. "

Gang of 10 held for ganja smuggling, chain-snatching
Gang of 10 held for ganja smuggling, chain-snatching

Time of India

time14 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Gang of 10 held for ganja smuggling, chain-snatching

Vijayawada: Ongole Taluka police in Prakasam district arrested a ten-member gang involved in ganja peddling, substance abuse, and chain-snatching activities. The accused are Gunji Narasimha Rao (30), Bonthala Gopalakrishna, Enuganti Karthik (19), Shaik Altaf (28), Mota Naveen (27), Avulamanda Ankabbabu (40), Ekambaram Narendra (27), Tanniru Akhil (27), Kunduru Praveen (25), and Shaik Krupa Rao (37). Police also seized 1.5 kg ganja, valued at approximately Rs 30,000, and gold ornaments weighing around 145 grams, including five gold chains, one mangalsutra, and a black-beaded gold chain, collectively valued at Rs 14.5 lakh. According to Ongole DSP R Srinivasa Rao, the prime accused, Gunji Narasimha Rao, got addicted to ganja and developed contacts with smugglers from Odisha, including Milan Das, Shankar Patekar, and Hadi. He procured ganja from them at the Andhra-Odisha border at a rate of Rs 2,000 per kilogram. Narasimha travelled back to Ongole using a combination of rail and bus transport, repackaged the ganja into small sachets, and sold it to students near local colleges for anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 500 per packet. The proceeds were used to fund his lifestyle and personal expenses. Over time, Narasimha was joined by associates Gopalakrishna and Altaf, both of whom also consumed and sold ganja. The network gradually expanded to include the remaining accused, many of whom were Narasimha's acquaintances and clients. They operated together, consuming the drug and selling small sachets to others for a profit, which was shared among them. Recently, Narasimha made a trip to Visakhapatnam and then to the Andhra-Odisha border again to procure 1.5 kg ganja from his Odisha contacts. He brought it back via train and bus, and stored it at his residence in Ongole. On Friday night, as the group assembled near Mukthinuthalapadu village to divide and distribute the contraband, Ongole Taluka police, acting on a tip-off, conducted a raid and arrested all ten individuals on the spot. During the interrogation, it was revealed that one of the accused, Shaik Krupa Rao, was also involved in chain-snatching, particularly targeting women in residential areas. Police recovered gold jewellery weighing 145 grams from his possession, suspected to be stolen. DSP Srinivasa Rao stated that five more individuals from Odisha, including Milan Das, Shankar Patekar, and Hadi, who supplied ganja to Narasimha, are currently absconding. He assured that efforts are underway to track down and arrest these suppliers soon.

Girl's parents tie boy to tree, beat him to death in MP village
Girl's parents tie boy to tree, beat him to death in MP village

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Girl's parents tie boy to tree, beat him to death in MP village

This is a representative image INDORE: The parents of a girl tied a 17-year-old boy to a tree, tonsured his head, and then beat him to death after catching him meeting the girl at a temple near her house in a village in the Namli area of Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district late on Friday. Ratlam ASP Rakesh Khaka said four people in Mevasa village, including the girl's father, have been booked for murder and detained for interrogation. "The deceased is said to have come in contact with the girl through a social networking site. The girl had called the boy to meet at a temple near her house around 11pm, when he was caught by her family members," said the ASP. Police received information about the death around 2.30am. SDOP Kishore Patanwala rushed to the spot and sent the body to Ratlam Medical College, which found fractures and fatal internal injuries to the boy's organs. The father of the deceased boy said he had no idea when his son left the house to meet the girl. He alleged that the girl's father and nearly 8 to 10 others tied him to a tree and fatally assaulted him. "They could have just informed me if they were angry. Why kill him?" he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mother Set Up A Hidden Camera, Her Husband Was Caught In The Act... Topbunt Undo Ramesh Malviya, deputy sarpanch of Kandrawasa village, to which the deceased belonged, said he accompanied the boy's father to nearby Mevasa village. There, they found the boy's body wrapped in plastic outside a house. Angry villagers placed the minor's body on the highway and blocked road on Saturday morning, demanding the accused be paraded publicly and that the victim's family be given financial aid of Rs 1 crore.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store