Who Are the Key Figures Arrested in the Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam?

Vijayawada, May 16 (NationPress) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the alleged liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh has taken into custody K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, a retired IAS officer and the former Secretary to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with Krishna Mohan Reddy, his former Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

They were apprehended following a third consecutive day of questioning by SIT officials. The former officials are expected to be presented before a magistrate on Saturday.

In the case, Dhanunjaya Reddy and Krishna Mohan Reddy are designated as accused numbers 31 and 32, respectively, and were interrogated for nine hours on Friday.

The arrests occurred shortly after the Supreme Court denied their requests for anticipatory bail, stating that the investigation is at a pivotal juncture.

Previously, their anticipatory bail requests were rejected by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, leading them to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.

Over the past three days, the SIT has reportedly questioned the former bureaucrats about individuals who allegedly received kickbacks from distillery companies.

Alongside them, Govindappa Balaji, the Director of Bharathi Cements Corporation, has recently been named in the FIR related to the alleged Rs 3,200 crore scam.

Balaji was apprehended in Karnataka on Tuesday, and a Vijayawada court has placed him in judicial custody until May 20.

Balaji, who is said to have close ties with Jagan Mohan Reddy, is identified as accused number 33 in the case and is alleged to have distributed kickbacks among members of the liquor syndicate via shell companies.

Meanwhile, the SIT continues to interrogate Sajjala Sridhar Reddy, who is in custody for the second consecutive day. A court has granted a three-day police custody for Sridhar Reddy, accused No. 6 in the case, after his arrest from his Hyderabad residence on April 26.

Sridhar Reddy, also the Managing Director of Spy Agro Industries, is accused of actively participating in meetings regarding the liquor policy.

He allegedly played a significant role in mediating between distillery owners, officials from the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL), the Prohibition and Excise Department, and leaders from the YSR Congress Party, facilitating the receipt of kickbacks.

Allegations persist that leaders from the YSR Congress Party promoted a new liquor policy, introduced new brands during their rule, accepted kickbacks from distillery firms, and inflicted substantial financial losses on the government.

The TDP-led NDA government established the SIT in November of the previous year to investigate claims of corruption and irregularities within the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) during the tenure of YSRCP.