Andhra ex-CM Jagan got kickbacks in Rs 3,500-crore liquor ‘scam’: CID probe

On Sunday, the YSRCP hit out at the TDP government led by N Chandrababu Naidu, accusing it of “political vendetta”. The case is built on “statements extracted under pressure and threats”, it said. YSRCP leaders led by Jagan Mohan Reddy also criticised the state government for the arrest of three-time party MP P V Midhun Reddy in connection with the case on Saturday.

According to the CID probe, the kickbacks were handed over to main accused Kesireddy Rajashekar Reddy, who allegedly channelled the money into a web of shell companies, before distributing it among others. Investigators have found that Rajashekar Reddy allegedly funnelled the money to YSRCP leaders and alleged masterminds V Vijayasai Reddy and P V Midhun Reddy, who would then transfer it to Jagan Mohan Reddy, the then Chief Minister.

While Kesireddy Rajashekar Reddy is Jagan’s former IT advisor, Vijayasai Reddy is a former Rajya Sabha MP and Midhun Reddy is the sitting Lok Sabha MP from Rajampet.

The probe has found that Vijayasai Reddy and Midhun Reddy allegedly influenced excise policy manipulation, and were instrumental in replacing automated OFS (order for supply) with manual process, and planted loyalists in Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL), it is learnt. Rajashekar Reddy allegedly created shell companies and handed over kickbacks to Jagan Mohan Reddy through another accused Balaji Govindappa.

The probe also found that Rajasekhar Reddy allegedly channelled Rs 250-Rs 300 crore cash for elections on behalf of YSRCP in tandem with another accused, former YSRCP MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, and was also responsible for laundering funds through over 30 shell firms, sources said. The amount was invested to acquire land, gold, luxury assets in Dubai and Africa, they sources alleged. At least Rs 60 crore of this alleged bribe money has been seized, they claimed.

The CID probe has found that the key accused introduced the new liquor policy to take absolute control of the supply and sale of liquor. The policy was aimed at getting hefty commissions from the favoured liquor companies. The accused planned the change in excise policy and also its modalities, to ensure that they would receive large kickbacks, major portion of such kickbacks was received in cash, gold bullion etc, it has found.

Condemning the chargesheet filed by the CID, YSRCP coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy Sunday said, “This is nothing but a political conspiracy designed to silence those who stand with the people. This is a targeted act of political vendetta by the TDP government to cover up its own scams and failures.”

“The alleged liquor scam is nothing but a manufactured narrative, created purely for media theatrics and to divert attention from real issues. The entire case is built on statements extracted under pressure, threats, third-degree torture, and also through bribes and inducements. Midhun Reddy, who has been elected as a Member of Parliament for three consecutive terms, has been falsely implicated through forced confessions,” he said.

Ramakrishna Reddy alleged that although not a single piece of evidence could be produced in the fabricated liquor scam, arrests were being made with vengeance by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who himself is involved in a liquor scam.

“Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy took away liquor trade from private players and got it into the government fold to reduce and regulate liquor prices while Chandrababu Naidu has let the liquor operations in private hands which has more scope for corruption and he had favoured his people by giving undue benefits,” he alleged.