Should the TDP Leader Push for Recovery of Rs.3,500 Crore in Liquor Scam?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Yanamala Ramakrishnudu demands government action on the liquor scam.
- The Revenue Recovery Act may be invoked to reclaim funds.
- Significant political implications are expected in Andhra Pradesh.
- The SIT is actively investigating the case.
- Public accountability remains a key concern.
Amaravati, July 21 (NationPress) Senior TDP leader and former minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on Monday called on the government to enforce the Revenue Recovery Act to reclaim Rs 3,500 crore that was allegedly misappropriated in a liquor scam during the previous YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh.
The former finance minister emphasized that the government must either enact the Revenue Recovery Act or introduce new legislation aimed at recovering the public funds purportedly stolen by former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Ramakrishnudu referenced a Supreme Court remark stating that economic offenders are more dangerous than murderers.
He informed reporters that while YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP P. V. Midhun Reddy was the 'mastermind' behind the Rs 3,500 crore scam, Jagan Mohan Reddy was its primary beneficiary.
The senior TDP leader remarked that those who have betrayed the public should not only stand trial in court but also be held accountable in the public arena, enabling the electorate to make their judgment during elections.
He asserted that YSRCP leaders are attempting to evade responsibility by labeling the situation as a political vendetta, stating that individuals who take the wrong path cannot avoid punishment.
Ramakrishnudu criticized that under Jagan Mohan Reddy's administration, substantial funds meant for the public treasury were illegally diverted.
His comments came in light of recent developments in the liquor scam investigation, wherein the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy on Saturday. A Vijayawada court has placed him in judicial custody until August 1.
The SIT has also submitted a preliminary chargesheet in this case at the ACB Court in Vijayawada on Saturday.
The preliminary chargesheet identifies Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of alleged kickbacks; however, he has not yet been named as an accused.
As of now, the court has not acknowledged the chargesheet, which claims that from 2019 to 2024, an average of Rs 50 to 60 crore was collected monthly from distilleries and funneled through a web of associates and shell companies.