The Andhra Pradesh liquor scam continues to unravel, with the number of arrests climbing to 11 as of Monday — and one more arrest appearing imminent. All eyes are now on Chevireddy Mohith Reddy, son of former Chandragiri MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, who is expected to be the 12th accused taken into custody.
Mohith Reddy, who is Accused No. 39 in the case, had moved both the trial court and the AP High Court for anticipatory bail. But in a big legal setback, the two courts dismissed his petitions on Monday, opening the way for his possible arrest. In quick succession, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) put pressure on him, sending new notices to him for questioning.
Despite being served multiple notices in the past, Mohith has consistently failed to appear before the SIT. His legal team had argued that he would cooperate only after the bail pleas were resolved. With that window now closed, Tuesday becomes a crucial day. If Mohith skips questioning again, sources say the SIT is ready to launch a full-scale search operation. Even if he does show up, arrest after interrogation is highly likely.
Mohith has reportedly remained underground since his father Bhaskar Reddy’s arrest. Recently, the SIT added four more individuals to the list of accused, including Mohith. Out of them, three — including Bhaskar Reddy — have already been arrested, while Mohith and one other remain absconding.
What sets Mohith’s case apart is his impressive academic background. A graduate with distinction from a reputed university in London, Mohith was once considered a symbol of pride in Chandragiri. Many believed he had a bright future in his professional field. However, after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy became Chief Minister, Bhaskar Reddy’s political ambitions soared. He pushed Mohith into politics, fielding him in the recent elections in place of himself — but both father and son faced embarrassing defeats at the ballot box.
Now, with arrest looming and legal trouble deepening, Mohith’s fall from an academic high to a criminal low paints a cautionary tale of how political ambition can sometimes derail even the most promising of careers.