Andhra Pradesh liquor scam.
A large quantity of cash was seized by the officials of Andhra Pradesh CID at Sulochana Farmhouse located in Kacharam of Shamshabad division of Rangreddy district adjacent to Hyderabad. There have been reports of about Rs 11 crore in 12 boxes. The seized cash is said to be related to the liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh. CID officials reached the farmhouse at midnight and seized Rs 11 crore kept in 12 boxes. After informing the local police, the cash was taken by Andhra Pradesh CID officials to the state of Andhra Pradesh. Let us know what is this liquor scam and what has been found about it so far.
What is this liquor scam?
According to a special investigation team (SIT) investigating the case, a large liquor scam of Rs 3,200 crore took place during the tenure of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government in Andhra Pradesh. The police have accused Kesi Reddy Raja Shekhar Reddy, former IT advisor of the then Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, of the scam. The SIT arrested Raj at Hyderabad Airport on 21 April. Raj Shekhar and his colleagues, including senior leaders and bureaucrats of YSRCP, are accused of involving less famous brands instead of popular liquor policy by misusing the state liquor policy, in return for which they received a bribe of Rs 3,200 crore. With a detailed plan to get a bribe of Rs 50 to 60 crore every month, Raj Shekhar and other colleagues ensured that regular orders were given to companies that used to receive bribes already fixed.
And whose names came out?
Raj Shekhar is not the only big name to be reported in this case. Raj’s remand report, which Rajasekhar Reddy refused to sign, includes prominent names like former Rajya Sabha MP Y Vijayasai Reddy, who was earlier close to Jagan, who had also left his Parliament membership and politics in January. Another big name is from Rajampet by YSRCP MP PV Midhun Reddy, who is the son of former Andhra Pradesh minister Peddyreddy Ramchandra Reddy who has also been arrested in the case. Jagan Mohan Reddy is not as an accused but his proposal is in the recently filed charge sheet.
The amount caught in the red.
What was the new liquor policy?
During the 2019 assembly election campaign, Jagan promised to implement liquor ban in a phased manner in the state. Soon after coming to power, in October 2019, YSRCP brought a new liquor policy, which he claimed that it was in line with this promise. The government decided to take about 3,500 liquor shops in the state under its control. To reduce the consumption of alcohol, the opening time of shops was reduced and prices were increased. The liquor business was fully handed over to the Government -owned Andhra Pradesh State Drinking Corporation Corporation Limited (APSBCL). The government also established a special enforcement bureau (SEB) under the prohibition and Excise Department to curb liquor smuggling and illegal liquor. Over time, the popular brands gradually disappeared from liquor shops and new, unknown brands replaced them. Brands of liquor names such as boom and president medal were often in discussion on social media, either joking or dissatisfied that only such unknown brands are available in the state.
Large scale efforts of liquor smuggling
Due to a rapid increase in prices, large -scale efforts were made to smuggle liquor from neighboring states Karnataka and Telangana, due to which the government had to cut prices in 2021. And now in a big raid related to Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, SIT officials seized Rs 11 crore cash from a guesthouse near Hyderabad. The raid is conducted after the confession of accused Varun Purushottam.
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