Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several locations in different states in connection with the alleged Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh that is claimed to have taken place during the previous YSRCP regime. The raids carried out on Thursday across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Delhi-NCR were part of the ED’s money laundering investigation into the alleged scam.
The premises, which have been raided by the ED, are of the firms or individuals who allegedly facilitated payment of kickbacks through bogus/inflated invoices. Those among the searched include — Arete Institute of Medical Sciences, Shree Jewellers Eximp, N R Udhyog LLP, The India Fruits Pvt. Ltd. (Chennai), Venkateshwara Packaging, Suvarna Durga Bottles, Rao Saheb Boorugu Mahadev Jewellers, Ushodaya Enterprises, and Mohan Lal Jewellers (Chennai).
To date, at least three chargesheets have been filed by the police. YSRCP Lok Sabha MP PV Midhun Reddy has been arrested in relation to the scam. As per the chargesheet, the former chief minister and YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was one of the recipients of kickbacks averaging Rs 50-Rs 60 crore per month. Jagan, however, has not been named as an accused in the complaint.
It is further stated in the chargesheet that Jagan also chaired a meeting in July 2019, regarding the new liquor policy under which the outlets would be run by the AP State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL), a government entity. These kickbacks were systematically laundered through low-profile individuals, such as office boys or employees, the chargesheet adds.
"During the discussions held in the meeting on 29.07.2019, chaired by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, matters relating to the number of shops, hiring of shop premises, shop infrastructure, manpower transportation chargers, etc., have been finalised," the police said, who then also claimed Jagan’s role in appointing D Vasudeva Reddy, an IRTS officer and an accused in the case, as Managing Director of APSBCL. It is said that Vasudeva was recommended for other posts by the then chief secretary and other officials, but was hired as the Managing Director of the firm.
Former bureaucrat Rajat Bhargava has many times tried to alert/warn the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) about the alleged scam, but the warnings fell on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, YSRCP has termed the allegations as baseless.
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