Liquor scam is political witch-hunt with no evidence, says YSRCP's Perni Nani
Synopsis
YSRCP's Perni Nani has gone on the offensive, calling the TDP government's liquor scam probe a political sideshow — pointing out that the alleged figure has collapsed from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹3,000 crore with zero recoveries in two years. The broadside signals a coordinated YSRCP counter-attack as the SIT probe drags on without a clear conclusion.
Key Takeaways
Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) addressed media at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli on 19 September .
He alleged the liquor scam estimate has shrunk from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹3,000 crore with no fund recoveries in nearly two years .
Perni Nani questioned the repositioning of accused Satyaprasad as an approver, calling the statements hearsay.
He demanded transparency on liquor-shop tenders and the government's promised ₹99 quality liquor.
He also called for inquiry into alleged DSC recruitment irregularities and sought clarification from CM Chandrababu Naidu on the Tirumala Laddu controversy.
Former Andhra Pradesh Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) on Saturday, 19 September accused the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government of weaponising the alleged liquor scam to target former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and deflect scrutiny from its own governance shortfalls. Speaking at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, he argued that the probe had produced no tangible evidence after nearly two years.
Shifting Numbers, No Recoveries
Perni Nani pointed to the rapidly shrinking estimates of the alleged scam as evidence of political overreach. 'TDP leaders initially described it as a ₹1 lakh crore scam. The figure later came down to ₹44,000 crore, then ₹33,000 crore, and now ₹3,000 crore. What has the SIT achieved after two years? The investigation is continuing like a never-ending television serial,' he said. He questioned why the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe had yet to recover any funds despite operating for close to two years.
The Satyaprasad Approver Controversy
Perni Nani alleged that Satyaprasad, previously named as an accused in the liquor case, was now being repositioned as an approver to construct a fresh legal narrative against Jagan Mohan Reddy. He contended that statements attributed to Satyaprasad were based on hearsay and lacked direct evidentiary value. 'When did Satyaprasad meet Jagan? Where did the alleged transactions take place? Where was the money recovered?' he demanded, also questioning why the accused was neither arrested promptly nor prevented from securing bail before being converted into an approver.
Governance Failures the Party Alleges Are Being Buried
According to Perni Nani, the liquor case narrative serves to divert attention from several unresolved issues: the non-implementation of the government's Super Six electoral promises, the distress of drought-hit farmers, alleged irregularities in DSC teacher recruitment, unauthorised liquor sales, and the concerns of students and unemployed youth. He also demanded transparency in liquor-shop tenders and challenged the government to clarify where its promised quality liquor was available at the announced price of ₹99.
DSC Recruitment and Tirumala Laddu Remarks
On teacher recruitment, Perni Nani called for a comprehensive inquiry into alleged DSC irregularities, urging authorities to verify TET scores, merit rankings, and caste certificates of newly appointed teachers, and to cross-check the latest recruitment list against the 2018 DSC selections. Separately, referencing the Tirumala Laddu controversy, he claimed that a recent Enforcement Directorate statement had placed relevant facts in the public domain, and urged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to explain why the issue of the sacred prasadam was allegedly used for political purposes.
The remarks signal that YSRCP intends to mount a sustained counter-offensive ahead of any further legal proceedings in the liquor case, with the party likely to escalate pressure on the TDP-led administration in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Not just its political optics. Andhra Pradesh's deeper governance contest — farmer distress, DSC recruitment, the Super Six promises — risks being permanently overshadowed by a legal saga that has so far generated more headlines than accountability.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam case about?
The Andhra Pradesh liquor scam refers to allegations of financial irregularities in the state's liquor trade during the previous YSRCP government led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The TDP-led coalition government set up an SIT to investigate, but critics say the probe has produced no fund recoveries in nearly two years.
Why is Perni Nani challenging the liquor case?
Perni Nani argues that the case is being used as a political tool to target former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and distract from governance failures such as unimplemented Super Six promises and farmer distress. He points to the alleged scam figure dropping from ₹1 lakh crore to ₹3,000 crore as evidence of overreach.
Who is Satyaprasad and why is his role controversial?
Satyaprasad was named as an accused in the liquor case but is reportedly now being positioned as an approver to build a case against Jagan Mohan Reddy. Perni Nani alleges the statements attributed to him are based on hearsay and questions why he was not arrested promptly or prevented from getting bail before turning approver.
What other issues did Perni Nani raise at the press conference?
Beyond the liquor case, Perni Nani raised concerns about alleged DSC teacher recruitment irregularities, the non-implementation of Super Six promises, drought-hit farmer distress, unauthorised liquor sales, and the Tirumala Laddu controversy. He also challenged the government to reveal where its promised ₹99 quality liquor is available.
What is the current status of the SIT probe into the liquor case?
According to Perni Nani, the SIT probe has been ongoing for nearly two years without any recovery of funds, while the estimated size of the alleged scam has reportedly been revised down multiple times. The SIT has not publicly responded to these specific claims.
