The Andhra Pradesh CID probe into the Rs 3,500 crore alleged liquor scam has concluded that the ‘ultimate beneficiary’. Although it is yet to name the former Chief Minister as an accused in the case, the chargesheet filed by it in the Vijayawada Court on Sunday made it clear. The CID filed its chargesheet in a Vijayawada court on Saturday. The court is yet to take cognizance of it.
The probe revealed that an amount of Rs 50-60 crore reached the ‘ultimate beneficiary’ as bribes every month between June 2019 and May 2024 out of the misplaced liquor policy that allegedly favoured some companies and suppliers. It also narrated how bribes were transferred at various stages.
The Chargesheet stated that the collected bribes were initially given to Raj Kasireddy, who then handed them over to Vijayasai Reddy, Mithun Reddy and Balaji. They then handed over the money to the then CM Jaganmohan Reddy, and an average of Rs 50 to 60 crores in bribes were received every month.
The SIT said that initially, Raj Kasireddy, Sumit, then APSBCL MD Vasudeva Reddy and Sajjala Sridhar Reddy would negotiate and transact with liquor suppliers on bribery matters. In the second phase, Vasudeva Reddy would talk to distilleries and suppliers from AP, and Prakash and Sumit would talk to those from Hyderabad. It was revealed that 27 to 30 lakh IMLs and 7 to 10 lakh cases of beer were sold every month.
However, the YSRCP strongly refuted these accusations stating this as `political vendetta’ by the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government. The case is built on “statements extracted under pressure and threats”, it said.
YSRCP leaders led by former Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy also lamented the state government for the arrest of three-time MP P V Mithun Reddy, as the main accused in this case.
The SIT 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. 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.
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.