Did Jagan Mohan Reddy Play a Role in the Andhra Liquor Scam?

Vijayawada, Aug 12 (NationPress) The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is investigating the liquor scam purportedly occurring during the YSRCP administration, has revealed in its supplementary charge sheet that former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy allegedly had a part in the Rs 3,500 crore scandal.

In a comprehensive 124-page charge sheet submitted to the ACB court here on Monday, the SIT outlined how decisions made by the Chief Minister were aimed at altering the excise policy to exploit the liquor business for unlawful financial gain.

It is claimed that low-profile individuals, such as office employees, were utilized to launder illicit payments from liquor firms. Employees, including office boys at companies owned by the accused, were allegedly employed as couriers to deposit unlawful cash into a web of bank accounts associated with the syndicate.

The chargesheet references a meeting from July 2019, chaired by the then Chief Minister, which concerned the new liquor policy that included the state-run Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Ltd (APSBCL).

The SIT asserts that pivotal decisions regarding the number of shops, leasing of shop spaces, shop infrastructure, and transportation charges were made during this meeting.

Additionally, Jagan is accused of exerting influence over the appointment of D. Vasudeva Reddy as the Managing Director of APSBCL.

The charge sheet also identifies DGP intelligence PSR Anjaneyulu, alleging that the IPS officer made 60 calls to the accused.

In the supplementary charge sheet, the SIT concentrated on the involvement of three accused individuals: K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office; Krishna Mohan Reddy, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the then Chief Minister; and Balaji Govindappa, Director of Bharati Cements. They are numbered as accused 31, 32, and 33, respectively.

Investigations regarding cash transfers made by the accused are also featured in the additional charge sheet. The SIT emphasized the connections of these three accused with the primary accused, Kasireddy Rajashekhar Reddy, the former IT adviser to Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The SIT had previously submitted a chargesheet on July 19, which cited Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of kickbacks.

Although Jagan Mohan Reddy's name appears in the 305-page chargesheet, he was not designated as an accused in the case.

The SIT asserted that the accused formed a syndicate to gather commissions or kickbacks from distillation companies, allegedly amassing around Rs. 3,500 crore between 2019 and 2024.

According to the SIT, syndicate members issued purchase orders to companies that acquiesced to their demands for commissions, suppressed regular brands, promoted new liquor brands, coerced company managements for payments, opened government retail outlets, and operated a manual system for collecting vast sums.

The SIT claimed that an average of Rs 50 to 60 crore was collected monthly from distilleries, funneled through a network of accomplices and shell companies.

The charge sheet suggests that the liquor policy was crafted by the YSRCP government to maintain complete control over alcohol distribution, enabling officials to extract substantial commissions. A significant portion of these kickbacks was reportedly received in cash, gold, or bullion.

The preliminary chargesheet included allegations against nine companies and seven individuals.

In total, 19 companies and 29 individuals have been named as accused thus far.

The SIT has arrested 12 individuals so far, including YSRCP MP Peddireddy Midhun Reddy. Those apprehended include Kasireddy (A1), Buneti Chanakya (A8), Pyla Dileep (A30), Sajjala Sridhar Reddy (A6), K. Dhanunjay Reddy (A31), P. Krishnamohan Reddy (A32), Govindappa Balaji (A33), Venkatesh Naidu (A34), Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy (A38), Peddireddy Midhun Reddy (A4), Balaji Kumar Yadav (A35), and E. Naveen Krishna.