Latest news with #RajKasireddy
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Liquor scam accused sheltered in Dubai flat linked to Telangana's phone tapping case suspect
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.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt orders attachment of properties in liquor scam probe
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh govt has ordered the attachment of properties and bank accounts linked to Adan Distilleries Pvt Ltd and Leela Distillery Pvt Ltd, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the implementation of the state's excise policy between 2019 and 2024. The orders were issued under the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, 1944, based on findings by the crime investigation department (CID). The total value of attached properties is estimated to be around Rs 33 crore. According to the govt order issued on Friday, the CID registered a case under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, citing serious offences including criminal breach of trust, cheating, conspiracy, and corruption. The probe revealed a nexus involving govt officials and private entities allegedly manipulating the issuance of order for supply (OFS) licences, inflating liquor prices, and receiving commissions and kickbacks from distilleries. During the investigation, Kasichanyula Srinivas, director of Adan Distilleries, testified that he was coerced by Rajshekhar Kasireddy, named accused number one in the liquor scam case, to establish the company with the promise of OFS support from Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like So sánh mức trượt giá: Hợp đồng tương lai (CFD) Bitcoin vs Ethereum IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Despite being a new entrant, Adan Distilleries reportedly recorded a turnover of Rs 800 crore between 2019 and 2024. The investigation further revealed a money trail involving significant transfers. Adan Distilleries allegedly transferred Rs 5 crore each to Arroyo Services Pvt Ltd and Ezyload Network Pvt Ltd, which in turn transferred these funds to Phoenix Spaces Pvt Ltd under the direction of T Eswar Kiran Kumar Reddy, reportedly acting under instructions from Raj Kasireddy. In another major transaction, Rs 20 crore was allegedly transferred from Adan Distilleries to Phoenix Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for commercial property in Phoenix Trivium in Hafeezpet, Hyderabad. Investigators assert that these transactions were part of a larger operation to divert illegally acquired funds from state-sanctioned liquor operations. Leela Distillery Pvt Ltd also came under scrutiny, with Rs 2.85 crore reportedly found in a private bank account in Pondicherry. The amount was allegedly gained through forced acquisition of the distillery and wrongful financial gains by accused persons including Raj Kasireddy, Booneti Chanakya, and Tukekula Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Varun Kumar named 40th accused in AP liquor scam; SIT moves to bring hhm back from US
Vijayawada: In a significant development in the alleged liquor scam case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a memo in the ACB Court in Vijayawada, naming Purushottam Varun Kumar as the 40th accused. Varun Kumar, a close associate of prime accused Raj Kasireddy, is believed to have played a key role in the financial fraud. Investigators revealed that he fled the country in July or August last year and is currently residing in the United States. Lookout notices have already been issued. According to sources, Varun Kumar is originally from Secunderabad and holds an engineering degree. Before his alleged involvement, he worked at a coffee shop in Hyderabad, earning a monthly salary of Rs 32,000. His entry into the scam began when a non-resident Indian doctor from Andhra Pradesh introduced him to Raj Kasireddy's network. He was subsequently appointed Andhra Pradesh operations head of a private distillery based in Puducherry. Authorities found that Varun's name was used to siphon off hundreds of crores of rupees. The SIT's investigation uncovered that Raj Kasireddy allegedly coerced the directors and executives of a Tamil Nadu-based company into handing over control of their associate distillery. Following this, Varun was installed as the AP operations head, and a bank account was opened in his name with cheque-signing powers of up to Rs 10 crore. Despite lacking basic infrastructure for liquor production, the distillery received massive supply orders from the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL). From June 2020 to March 2024, APSBCL transferred a staggering Rs 459 crore to the company's account—an amount the SIT flagged as highly irregular. Investigators found that the funds were rapidly diverted to several other accounts, many linked to suspicious or fictitious companies. With substantial evidence now in hand, the SIT has formally added Varun Kumar as an accused. Authorities are working to bring him back to India to extract further details and expose deeper layers of the scam.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
ED seeks nod from ACB court to question liquor scam accused
Vijayawada: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the alleged multi-crore liquor scam during the previous YSRCP regime, registered an enforcement case information report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act . Raj Kasireddy , the prime accused (A1) in the case, is currently in judicial custody. ED's counsel Jayaprakash filed a petition in the ACB special court in Vijayawada seeking permission to interrogate Raj and formally record his statement. The court, after reviewing the petition, requested additional documents, including a copy of the ECIR, which the ED is expected to submit within a week. According to preliminary findings, nearly Rs 3,200 crore in kickbacks were allegedly collected from supply companies and distilleries that secured major orders. These funds were routed through multiple layers of fictitious and shell companies before being transferred to the ultimate beneficiaries. The ED is working to trace and identify the final recipients. Kasireddy is believed to have acted on behalf of senior political leaders of the previous govt. His interrogation is expected to shed light on the broader conspiracy and lead to further revelations. The ED has already gathered significant details related to the bank accounts and assets of the accused, suspects, and related entities. A special investigation team (SIT) is also examining remand reports and financial records to track the flow of laundered money. Authorities suspect that shell companies and 'benami' entities were strategically used to transfer the illicit funds across multiple stages, thereby concealing the identity of actual beneficiaries. Following Kasireddy's interrogation, the ED is preparing to issue notices to other accused persons in the case for questioning.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
The alleged ‘liquor scam' in Andhra Pradesh – who got the money, and how?
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.
