The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out searches across five states in connection with the alleged Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh said to have taken place during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime.
Officials said around 20 locations in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and the Delhi-NCR region were searched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe focuses on entities and individuals accused of routing kickbacks through bogus and inflated invoices.
Among those covered were premises linked to Arete Institute of Medical Sciences, Shree Jewellers Eximp, NR Udhyog LLP, The India Fruits Pvt. Ltd. (Chennai), Venkateshwara Packaging, Suvarna Durga Bottles, Rao Saheb Boorugu Mahadev Jewellers, Ushodaya Enterprises and Mohan Lal Jewellers (Chennai).
The ED registered its money-laundering case after taking cognisance of an Andhra Pradesh Police special investigation team (SIT) FIR. Police have already filed three chargesheets and arrested YSRCP Lok Sabha MP PV Midhun Reddy.
According to the chargesheets, kickbacks of about Rs 50-60 crore a month were allegedly generated after the 2019 liquor policy brought state-run outlets under the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL). The policy was finalised in a meeting chaired by then chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, though he has not been named as an accused.
Police allege the funds were laundered through low-profile employees and office staff, with some receiving the cash as “salary” before transferring it to others. Former special chief secretary for excise Rajat Bhargava reportedly warned the Chief Minister’s Office about the irregularities but was ignored.
The YSRCP has dismissed the allegations as baseless.
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