The coalition government has appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the liquor smuggling scandal that went on rampage during the Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime. Vijayawada Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu (IG rank) will head it.
The government issued orders on Wednesday appointing Red Sandalwood Anti-Smuggling Task Force SP L. Subbaraidu, Prakasam District Regional Vigilance-Enforcement Officer Kolli Srinivas, Mangalagiri CID Additional SP R. Srihari Babu, Nandyal District Don DSP P. Srinivas, CIs K. Shivaji and CH Naga Srinivas to investigate the liquor smuggling with a special team.
DGP Harish Kumar Gupta, in the capacity of State Vigilance-Enforcement DG, reported to the government on the 1st of this month. The government, which has already obtained key information in the investigation of the case (21/2024) registered by the CID in September last year, has issued a GO appointing a new SIT to investigate in more depth.
It has made it clear that the investigation should be conducted under the supervision of CID DG Ravi Shankar Ayyannar. The order states that the details of the investigation of the case and other matters uncovered should be reported to the CID DG and the DGP once in 15 days.
The coalition government has brought to light the corruption of YSRCP leaders who allegedly increased liquor prices and gave orders to those who gave commissions, saying they were trying to keep people away from alcohol.
The CID, which registered a case in the last week of September based on the preliminary report given by Excise Commissioner MK Meena, has collected more information. It has been found that popular liquor brands were replaced by inferior J brands and supplied to shops.
In return, it has been found that the then government leaders collected a minimum of Rs. 150 to a maximum of Rs. 450 on each box. It has been concluded that YSRCP MPs Mithun Reddy and Vijayasai Reddy (who recently resigned from YSRCP and Rajya Sabha) played a key role in this.
It has been found that commission money, not less than Rs. 60 crores every month, was brought in a vehicle every week and delivered to the place specified by the palace leaders. It was discovered that Kasireddy Rajasekhar Reddy alias Raj, who served as an IT advisor during Jagan’s regime, transferred the huge amount of black money to the key leader in the form of hawala.