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Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
ED tracks Rs 3,500 cr money trail in Andhra liquor scam
Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate has intensified its probe into the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, recording statements from multiple distilleries allegedly linked to money laundering. Officials also questioned the prime accused, Raj Kasireddy, currently lodged in jail, as they track the flow of illicit funds and investigate laundering routes used to channel the suspected proceeds of crime. The case stems from allegations by the special investigation team (SIT) of the AP police, which claims that 16 liquor companies paid ₹1,677 crore in bribes to secure supply orders from the AP State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) between 2019 and 2024. In return, these companies reportedly obtained contracts worth ₹10,835 crore. Laundering under scrutiny You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad SIT data reveals that during the former YSRCP govt, APSBCL issued supply orders worth ₹23,838 crore, with more than 90% of them going to just 40 of the 111 registered liquor companies. The SIT estimates that over ₹3,500 crore in bribes was funnelled through benami firms, shell companies, and hawala operators. Investigators allege that once APSBCL released payments, distilleries diverted large sums under the guise of raw material purchases and brand promotions. These funds were allegedly withdrawn in cash and handed over as kickbacks. Acting on the SIT's predicate offence, the ED invoked the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and summoned several accused firms and individuals for questioning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Most Women Have No Idea This Household Item Fades Dark Spots Overnight Undo Distilleries under ED lens The entities under investigation include Adaan Distilleries (producer of Adaan Supreme blend whisky under a sub-lease from SPY Distilleries), Leela Distilleries (a subsidiary of SNJ Sugars producing Leela's brilliant blend and British empire premium whiskies), UV Distilleries, SPY Agro Industries, Sharvani Alco Brew, SNJ Sugars and Products, Tilaknagar Industries, Amber Spirits, and Brindavan Marketing Agencies. The ED has already recorded Kasireddy's statement in jail. Separately, the AP govt ordered the attachment of assets belonging to Adaan Distilleries and Leela Distilleries after a CID probe. The attached properties and bank accounts, valued at around ₹33 crore, are linked to charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act, including criminal breach of trust, cheating, conspiracy, and corruption. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Time of India
ACB court orders SBI to keep seized Rs 11 crore intact in liquor scam case
Vijayawada: As part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged liquor scam case, a special court for ACB cases in Vijayawada issued directions to the investigating officer and State Bank of India ( SBI ), Machavaram branch, regarding the handling of the Rs 11 crore cash allegedly seized during the investigation. The seizure pertains to currency reportedly recovered by the special investigation team (SIT) from a farmhouse identified as Sulochana Farms, located at Kacharam village in Shamshabad mandal of Ranga Reddy district in Telangana. The cash is alleged to be connected to Kasireddy Rajashekara Reddy, A1 in the case, who is under judicial custody. On Friday, the counsel for Kasireddy filed criminal miscellaneous petition, requesting the court to direct the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to disclose details regarding the release date of the currency notes seized by SIT. The counsel submitted that the accused suspects that the seized currency includes notes printed after June 2024, which would contradict the prosecution's claim that the money was secretly preserved prior to that period. Further, the petition also mentioned seeking the appointment of an advocate commissioner to record the serial numbers of the seized currency notes. The petition called for videographing the entire process to ensure proper documentation and transparency. It was also requested that the seized currency be maintained separately and not mixed with other bank deposits. The court acknowledged the submissions made on behalf of the accused, noting concerns over potential tampering with the seized evidence. It was informed that the investigating officer, identified as Srihari, had initially claimed in court that the cash had already been deposited at SBI, Machavaram branch, on August 1. However, the defence countered that the cash had not yet been deposited and expressed apprehensions that the investigating agency might attempt to manipulate or replace the notes. Taking cognisance of the allegations, the special judge directed the investigating officer to prepare a detailed panchanama recording the serial numbers of all seized currency notes prior to deposit. In the event the cash had already been deposited, the court instructed the bank authorities not to mix the seized amount with other currency held at the branch until further orders. The seized cash amounting to Rs 11 crore remains at the centre of the investigation, and the court has emphasised the need for meticulous handling of the evidence in light of the defence's objections. The matter is slated for further hearing, and additional directions may follow based on the court's examination of the petitions and evidence presented. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
ED seeks nod from ACB court to question liquor scam accused
Vijayawada: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the alleged multi-crore liquor scam during the previous YSRCP regime, registered an enforcement case information report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act . Raj Kasireddy , the prime accused (A1) in the case, is currently in judicial custody. ED's counsel Jayaprakash filed a petition in the ACB special court in Vijayawada seeking permission to interrogate Raj and formally record his statement. The court, after reviewing the petition, requested additional documents, including a copy of the ECIR, which the ED is expected to submit within a week. According to preliminary findings, nearly Rs 3,200 crore in kickbacks were allegedly collected from supply companies and distilleries that secured major orders. These funds were routed through multiple layers of fictitious and shell companies before being transferred to the ultimate beneficiaries. The ED is working to trace and identify the final recipients. Kasireddy is believed to have acted on behalf of senior political leaders of the previous govt. His interrogation is expected to shed light on the broader conspiracy and lead to further revelations. The ED has already gathered significant details related to the bank accounts and assets of the accused, suspects, and related entities. A special investigation team (SIT) is also examining remand reports and financial records to track the flow of laundered money. Authorities suspect that shell companies and 'benami' entities were strategically used to transfer the illicit funds across multiple stages, thereby concealing the identity of actual beneficiaries. Following Kasireddy's interrogation, the ED is preparing to issue notices to other accused persons in the case for questioning.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Key accused arrested in Andhra Pradesh liquor scam
Vijayawada: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Andhra Pradesh has arrested Bharati Cements Director Balaji Govindappa in the liquor scam case. Govindappa, one of the key accused in the case, was arrested by the SIT in Mysuru in Karnataka, and he was being brought to Vijayawada, police sources said. The SIT had last week served notices to Govindappa, K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, a retired IAS officer and ex-secretary of former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and Krishna Mohan Reddy, former Officer on Special Duty (OSD). They were directed to appear before the SIT office at Vijayawada Commissionerate on May 12 for questioning. However, they skipped the appearance. Acting on credible information, the SIT officials arrested Govindappa in Mysuru. The Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 7 had rejected their anticipatory bail pleas, citing the preliminary stage of the investigation into the alleged scam of Rs 3,200 crore. All three accused were close aides of Jagan Mohan Reddy, and there are allegations that they collected bribes from liquor supplying companies and distilleries and diverted the money to bogus companies. According to SIT, the trio had held meetings with the owners of liquor supplying companies and distilleries in Hyderabad and Amaravati. Raj Kasireddy, the prime accused in the case, was allegedly handing over the bribe to the trio after collecting from the owners of the liquor companies. The SIT on April 21 arrested Kasireddy in the multi-crore liquor scam that occurred during the YSR Congress Party regime. It served notices to other accused based on the information gathered during the questioning of Kasireddy. Kasireddy is suspected to have played a key role in the alleged illegal collection of nearly Rs 3,000 crore over a five-year period. He was the IT advisor to the then chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The TDP-led NDA government constituted the SIT in November last year to investigate the allegations of irregularities and corruption in Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) under the YSRCP tenure. The TDP leaders alleged that some YSRCP leaders had links with the liquor manufacturers, floated many local brands, conducted cash payments and made illegal money. The SIT reportedly identified the involvement of some political leaders, private persons and others in the scam. The investigating officers reportedly traced the money trail of kickbacks involving a sitting Lok Sabha member and a former Rajya Sabha member from YSRCP. Former MP V. Vijayasai Reddy, who resigned from YSRCP and also quit as MP in January, appeared before the SIT as a witness on April 18. He termed Kasireddy as the mastermind. He also told the investigating officers that he did not know who received the money collected by Kasireddy.
India Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
ED files money laundering case into alleged Andhra Pradesh liquor policy scam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case in connection with an alleged Rs 3,200 crore liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh. The agency is considering the possibility of registering a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the key individuals reported to be involved in the alleged scam. The irregularities reportedly took place during the previous YSRCP government's tenure in the state. Officials are also examining potential evidence against several individuals under federal agency has written to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) Chief and the Vijayawada Police Commissioner, seeking details of the case, including the FIR and other related documents. The ED will also examine the roles of liquor agents, vendors, and government officials as part of its ED's action is based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Economic Offences Wing of the Andhra Pradesh CID in September 2024. A Special Investigation Team formed by the Telugu Desam Party-led government had already been investigating the case under IPC Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants), 420 (cheating), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). The SIT, instituted by the Andhra Pradesh government to probe the alleged scam, arrested Kasireddy Rajashekar Reddy, the main suspect in the case, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad, Telangana, on April SIT named several individuals in its investigation, including Kasireddy, who was called the 'kingpin of the scam'. Kasireddy served as the IT adviser to former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan admitted to formulating an excise policy with the approval of former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy to generate revenue for the government and party. However, he refused to sign a confessional statement, the report SIT also named several others, including Members of Parliament and retired IAS officers who allegedly played a key role in the scam between 2019 and to Kasireddy's remand report, he played a key role in collecting monthly kickbacks of around Rs 60 crore from liquor manufacturers by promoting select liquor brands and blocking the promotion of favoured, more popular remand report also stated that Kasireddy received liquor sales data every five days, calculated the kickbacks to be collected, and routed the money through intermediaries. The funds were then allegedly sent to several senior YSRCP leaders, including Rajampet MP P V Midhun Reddy, former MP V Vijayasai Reddy and Sajjala Sridhar YSR Congress Party has denied all allegations and accused the TDP government of launching a politically motivated investigation to target its Watch
