A Special Investigation Team probing the alleged liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh claims to have seized Rs 11 crore in cash and boxes of alcohol bottles from a farmhouse in Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
According to sources, the seizure was made during searches conducted following information from Varun Purshottam, a suspect in the case and a close aide of the prime accused, Kesireddy Rajashekar Reddy. The cash was allegedly stashed in 12 boxes of alcohol bottles.
K Rajashekar Reddy is a former IT advisor to then chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The seizures are connected to the alleged Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam under the former chief minister’s government. Investigators claim that Andhra Pradesh’s liquor policy was skewed in favour of a select group of companies in return for kickbacks.
The CID filed a chargesheet in the case on July 20 after the arrest of three-time party MP P V Midhun Reddy. According to sources, the chargesheet mentions that the former chief minister had received kickbacks, although it does not name him as an accused.
Sources claim that the new liquor policy was introduced to take absolute control of the supply and sale of liquor and that Rs 50-60 crore was generated in bribes every month between June 2019 and May 2024. Sources also allege that a major portion of the kickbacks were received in cash, gold bullion etc.
On its part, the YSRCP has denied the allegations, calling it a “political conspiracy designed to silence those who stand with the people”.
