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Three accused skip summons by Special Investigation Team in liquor probe

Three accused skip summons by Special Investigation Team in liquor probe

Time of India11-05-2025
Vijayawada: Three key accused—retired IAS officer
Dhanunjaya Reddy
, former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the then Chief Minister's Office Krishnamohan Reddy, and Bharathi Cements director Govindappa Balaji—failed to appear before the
Special Investigation Team
(SIT) despite being served formal notices.The SIT, which summoned the trio for questioning based on evidence linking them to the
liquor scam
case, has intensified efforts to locate them after they skipped the scheduled inquiry.
Officials stated that the three were expected to provide critical information regarding alleged irregularities in liquor policy decisions and financial transactions during the previous government's tenure.According to sources, several attempts were made to contact the accused following the issuance of notices, but there has been no response.
The SIT is now considering stronger legal measures, including the issuance of fresh summons or seeking court directives to compel their appearance.The trio were recently added to the list of accused through a memo submitted to the ACB special court in Vijayawada. Their non-compliance has raised questions about their willingness to cooperate and has intensified scrutiny of their roles in the investigation.So far, 33 individuals have been named in the case, including high-profile political leaders, senior bureaucrats, and corporate executives. The primary accused is Raj Kesireddy (A1), with
YSRCP MP Peddireddy Mithun Reddy
and former MP V. Vijayasai Reddy also listed as co-accused. The SIT has already arrested four individuals and continues to probe a network of alleged kickbacks, money trails, and policy manipulation.With the trio evading questioning, SIT teams have been dispatched to multiple locations to trace their whereabouts, with intelligence inputs being gathered. Officials emphasised that failure to cooperate will be treated as a serious offense and may lead to further legal consequences, including potential arrest.
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