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Economic Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
How Tilaknagar industries' name came up in Andhra liquor scam
Tilaknagar Industries, a notable player in India's alcohol industry, found itself in the limelight for all the wrong reasons after the Andhra Pradesh filed its chargesheet in the keenly-watched liquor scam in the state. Tilaknagar was named in the case along with a number of other industry peers, all of which have been implicated in alleged cases of various sharp practices and kickbacks related to liquor trade. ADVERTISEMENT The Andhra case is reminiscent of the Delhi liquor scam case that played a major role in bringing the Kejriwal government down. The chargesheet on the alleged Rs 3,500 crore scam mentions former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of the kickbacks. However, the 305-page document didn't directly name him as an accused. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged liquor scam has arrested YSRCP Lok Sabha member PV Midhun Reddy on July 21, after grilling him for police alleged that the key accused brought out the new liquor policy during the previous YSRCP regime with an "underlying intent of having full control over the supply and sale of liquor". This helped them achieve their goal of earning commissions/kickbacks between 2019 till 2024, they to the chargesheet, Tilaknagar Industries paid an estimated Rs 218 crore to a syndicate as kickbacks "based on the quantity and price pushed through Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL)". These kickbacks were allegedly paid in return for an income of about Rs 1,472 crore that the company earned from APSBCL, it said. ADVERTISEMENT The Andhra Police chargesheet has sought to link a number of "suspicious" transactions to the company. The money, which the chargesheet says was received from APSBCL, was alledgedly converted to "untraceable liquid cash" through four jewellery investigators have accused Tilaknagar Industries of misusing its position and influence in the Andhra state alcohol body in order to push its business interests, eventually securing a major sales boost. ADVERTISEMENT In order to retain this competitive edge, the chargesheet says, Tilaknagar routed some part of its legitimate revenue to some jewellery merchants. The gold received in return for these funds was systematically passed on to the syndicate."This gave the transactions a veneer of legal GST-compliant business expense, while effectively converting white banked money into untraceable black assets," the chargesheet adds. ADVERTISEMENT Shares of Tilaknagar Industries, the maker of the Mansion House brandy and whisky and Blue Lagoon gin, defied the negative publicity to register sharp spikes on July 21 and 22. At around 1 pm on July 22, the stock was trading at over Rs 454, a 7+ per cent jump over the previous day. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- The Hindu
Andhra liquor scam: Former CM Jagan one among those who received kickbacks from distillery companies, says CID remand report
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) police probing into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam stated in its remand report for the arrest of MP P.V. Midhun Reddy that then Chief Minister was one among those who received kickbacks from the distillery companies. The remand report was released late on Sunday night (July 20, 2025.) Police named about 40 persons, including a retired IAS officer, officers of Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL), one MP, former MP, public representatives and others as accused in the scam. 'Accused No.1 Kessireddy Rajashekar Reddy collected the kickbacks and routed to Accused No.4 P.V. Midhun Reddy, Accused No.5 V. Vijaya Sai Reddy and Balaji Govindappa (A-33) before the kickback amount reportedly reached the then Chief Minister,' police investigating the case said in the Midhun Reddy's remand report. 'Kickback negotiations began at 12% and escalated to 20% of the base price. The distillery companies were threatened from business exclusion, if they did not comply with the demands of the liquor syndicate,' as per the report. During investigation, it was revealed that the syndicate members including Kessireddy Rajashekar Reddy, Avinash Reddy alias Sumith (A-7 and co-brother of Kessireddy), MP Midhun Reddy, V. Vijay Sai Reddy (A-5) met on September 13, 2019, at the house of Mr. Vijay Sai Reddy, located at Jubilee Hills, in Hyderabad. Then APSBCL Managing Director D. Vasudeva Reddy (A-5) and D. Satya Prasad (A-3) presented three years liquor sales and other particulars. After analysing the sales reports and the related documents, the accused deduced that they could earn nearly ₹50-60 crore per month through commissions or kickbacks from the liquor suppliers. Under Andhra's new liquor policy, 180 ml of any brand to be sold at ₹99 In the meeting, the syndicate members decided that Mr. Satya Prasad will handle the supplies at the liquor depots and sales at the Government Retail Outlets to bypass the automatic order for supply. The kickbacks were disguised through inflated transactions with bullion merchants and shell companies. Bank records show funds routed through entities such as SPY Distilleries (a brand promoted by the accused), Sanhoc Labs and D-Cart Logistics. To facilitate the payments made through kickbacks or commissions, the distillery companies followed several methods of cash generation from the funds credited by the APSBCL into their accounts. 'They [liquor suppliers] colluded with gold merchants and supplied gold to the accused. Suspicious transactions, worth nearly ₹300-400 crore have been identified from the bank statements of the distillery firms,' the CID officials stated in the report. For collecting kickbacks, the accused established a private network by attracting gullible young graduates including several IIT personnel to act as collection agents (or) mules for making VoIP calls by impersonation and luring them with white collar jobs in the shell companies floated by the syndicate, as per the report.
News18
20-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Andhra Liquor Scam: Chargesheet Mentions Ex-CM Jagan Reddy As Kickback Recipient
Last Updated: A chargesheet filed by police in connection with the Rs 3,500 cr alleged liquor scam has mentioned Reddy as one of the recipients of the kickbacks averaging Rs 5060 cr per month. Andhra Pradesh police has mentioned former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of the kickbacks, averaging Rs 50-60 crore per month, in a chargesheet filed in connection with the Rs 3,500 crore alleged liquor scam in a local court. The 305-page chargesheet filed on Saturday, however, stopped short of naming Jagan as an accused. The court is yet to take cognisance of the chargesheet, news agency PTI reported. Jagan, in a post on X, termed the alleged liquor scam as nothing but a manufactured narrative, created purely for media theatrics and to divert attention from real issues. According to the YSRCP chief, the entire case is built on statements extracted under pressure, threats, third-degree torture, and through bribes and inducements. Meanwhile, the chargesheet claims, 'The collected amounts were eventually handed over to Kesireddy Rajasekhar Reddy(A-1)". 'Rajasekhar Reddy would then pass the money to Vijay Sai Reddy (A-5), Mithun Reddy (A-4), Balaji (A-33), who would transfer it to former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. On average, Rs 50-60 crore was collected every month (during the 2019-24 YSRCP regime)," the charge sheet said, adding that it was corroborated by a witness. The chargesheet alleged that Rajasekhar Reddy, 'the mastermind and co-conspirator" behind the entire Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam, had influenced excise policy manipulation besides being instrumental in replacing automated OFS (order for supply) with manual process; to have planted loyalists in APSBCL (Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited). He allegedly created shell distilleries and handed over 'kickbacks" to Jagan through another accused, Balaji Govindappa, the chargesheet further alleged. Rajasekhar Reddy routed as much as Rs 250-Rs 300 crore cash for elections on behalf of YSRCP Party in tandem with accused Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy (former MLA) and was also responsible for laundering funds through over 30 shell firms. The amount was invested to acquire land, gold, and luxury assets in Dubai and Africa, the charge sheet alleged. The police alleged that the key accused brought out the new liquor policy during the previous YSRCP regime with an underlying intent of having full control over the supply and sale of liquor, thereby to achieve their broader goal of earning commissions/kickbacks between 2019 and 2024. 'The accused planned the change in excise policy and also its modalities, to ensure that they would receive large kickbacks, a major portion of such kickbacks was received in cash, gold bullion etc," the charge sheet claimed. During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused deliberately withheld OFS approvals to brands/distilleries who did not yield to the kickback demands. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged liquor scam has arrested YSRCP Lok Sabha member PV Midhun Reddy on Saturday, after grilling him for several hours. The Enforcement Directorate also filed a money laundering case in May to investigate the alleged liquor scam. The federal probe agency has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe alleged irregularities in the sale of liquor in the state. From the investigation done so far, it was revealed that during the second half of 2019, a meeting of the owners of the distilleries was held by Sajjala Sridhar Reddy (A-6) at Hotel Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, the charge sheet claimed. The distilleries were told to co-operate with the syndicate, it added. 'During the meeting, the owners were intimidated that if they did not accede to their proposals and no orders would be issued to them. Such intimidation for kickbacks by threatening them with no issuances of OFS and thereby receiving kickbacks amounts to extortion," the chargesheet alleged. Under the threat of loss of business, several distilleries agreed to pay kickbacks at the rate of 12 per cent. Soon, the percentage was increased to 20 per cent of the base price, it further alleged. Slamming the government for the charge sheet, in a post on 'X', the YSRCP Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu himself is on bail for a case on issues about liquor policy during 2014 – 19, which is irrefutable evidence as to why he is stooping so low. 'The fact that he wants to nullify his case for acts during 2014-19 and also justify his policy now for 2024- 29, he is finding fault with the policy formulated by the YSRCP Government," he charged. top videos View all YSRCP leaders of a liquor scam, the current TDP-led coalition is reviving the very corrupt liquor practices that the previous YSRCP government had dismantled, Jagan hit out. (With inputs from PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
20-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam: Chargesheet Mentions Jagan Reddy As Kickback Recipient
Amaravati: A chargesheet filed by Andhra Pradesh police in connection with the Rs 3,500 crore alleged liquor scam in a local court has mentioned former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of the kickbacks averaging Rs 50-60 crore per month. The 305-page chargesheet filed on Saturday, however, stopped short of naming Jagan as accused. The court is yet to take the cognizance of the chargesheet. In a post on X, Jagan termed the alleged liquor scam as nothing but a manufactured narrative, created purely for media theatrics and to divert attention from real issues. According to the YSRCP chief the entire case is built on statements extracted under pressure, threats, third-degree torture, and through bribes and inducements. Meanwhile, the chargesheet claims, "The collected amounts were eventually handed over to Kesireddy Rajasekhar Reddy(A-1)". "Rajasekhar Reddy would then pass the money to Vijay Sai Reddy (A-5), Mithun Reddy (A-4), Balaji (A-33) who would transfer it to former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. On an average, Rs 50-60 crore was collected every month (during the 2019-24 YSRCP regime)," the charge sheet said, adding that it was corroborated by a witness. The chargesheet alleged that Rajasekhar Reddy, "the mastermind and co-conspirator" behind the entire Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam, had influenced excise policy manipulation besides being instrumental in replacing automated OFS (order for supply) with manual process; to have planted loyalists in APSBCL (Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited). He allegedly created shell distilleries and handed over "kickbacks" to Jagan through another accused Balaji Govindappa, the chargesheet further alleged. Rajasekhar Reddy routed as much as Rs 250-Rs 300 crore cash for elections on behalf of YSRCP Party in tandem with accused Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy (former MLA) 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, the charge sheet alleged. The police alleged that the key accused brought out the new liquor policy during the previous YSRCP regime with an underlying intent of having full control over the supply and sale of liquor, thereby to achieve their broader goal of earning commissions/kickbacks between 2019 till 2024. "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," the charge sheet claimed. During investigation it was revealed that the accused deliberately withheld OFS approvals to brands/distilleries who did not yield to the kickback demands. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged liquor scam has arrested YSRCP Lok Sabha member PV Midhun Reddy on Saturday, after grilling him for several hours. In May, the Enforcement Directorate also filed a money laundering case to investigate the alleged liquor scam. The federal probe agency has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to probe alleged irregularities in the sale of liquor in the state. From the investigation done so far, it was revealed that during the second half of 2019, a meeting of the owners of the distilleries was held by Sajjala Sridhar Reddy (A- 6) at Hotel Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, the charge sheet claimed. The distilleries were told to co-operate with the syndicate, it added. "During the meeting, the owners were intimidated that if they do not accede to their proposals and no orders will be issued to them. Such intimidation for kickbacks by threatening them with no issuances of OFS and thereby receiving kickbacks amounts to extortion," the chargesheet alleged. Under the threat of loss of business, several distilleries agreed to pay kickbacks at the rate of 12 per cent. Soon, the percentage was increased to 20 per cent of the base price, it further alleged. Slamming the government for the charge sheet, in a post on 'X' the YSRCP Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu himself is on bail with respect to a case on issues pertaining to liquor policy during 2014 - 19, is an irrefutable evidence as to why he is stooping so low. "The fact that he wants to nullify his case for acts during 2014-19 and also justify his policy now for 2024- 29, he is finding fault with the policy formulated by the YSRCP Government," he charged. By falsely accusing YSRCP leaders of a liquor scam, the current TDP-led coalition is reviving the very corrupt liquor practices that the previous YSRCP government had dismantled, Jagan hit out.
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Andhra liquor scam: Chargesheet mentions former CM Jagan as kickback recipient, not named as accused
AMARAVATI: A chargesheet filed by Andhra Pradesh police in connection with Rs 3,500 crore alleged liquor scam in a local court has mentioned former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as the recipient of kickbacks averaging Rs 50-60 crore per month. The 305-page chargesheet filed on Saturday, however, stopped short of naming Jagan as accused. The court is yet to take the cognizance of the chargesheet. "The collected amounts were eventually handed over to Kesireddy Rajasekhar Reddy(A-1). Rajasekhar Reddy would then pass the money to Vijay Sai Reddy (A-5), Mithun Reddy (A-4), Balaji (A-33) who would transfer it to former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. On an average, Rs 50-60 crore was collected every month," charge sheet said, adding that it was corroborated by a witness. The chargesheet alleged that Rajasekhar Reddy, "the mastermind and co-conspirator" behind the entire Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam, had influenced excise policy manipulation besides being instrumental in replacing automated OFS (order for supply) with manual process; to have planted loyalists in APSBCL (Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited). He allegedly created shell distilleries and handed over "kickbacks" to Jagan through another accused Balaji Govindappa, the chargesheet further alleged.
