Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh govt constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities and corruption in the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) between Oct 2019 and Mar 2024. The SIT was formed following a request from the director general of police (DGP), Andhra Pradesh, to further investigate the case registered at the CID police station on Sept 23, 2024.
The case booked under Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was based on a complaint from the principal secretary to the Govt, Revenue (Vigilance-IV) department, AP secretariat, Velagapudi. The complaint alleged large-scale corruption and financial mismanagement within APSBCL, the state-run entity responsible for liquor distribution.
According to the govt order issued by chief secretary K Vijayanand, the SIT will function under the supervision of the director general of police, CID, and will have full investigative powers under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The team has been empowered to conduct searches, seize documents, examine witnesses, and arrest suspects as per the law.
The SIT will be headed by SV Rajasekhar Babu, commissioner of police, NTR police commissionerate, Vijayawada. Other key members include L Subbarayudu, SP, red sanders anti-smuggling task force, Tirupati; Kolli Srinivas, additional SP, vigilance & enforcement department, Ongole; R Srihari Babu, additional SP, CID, Mangalagiri; P Srinivas, DSP, Dhone (L&O), Nandyal district; and inspectors K Shivaji and Ch. Naga Srinivas.
The govt has directed all departments to cooperate with the SIT and provide necessary assistance, including technical support and relevant documents. The SIT has also been granted the authority to co-opt officers from other departments if required.
The team is required to submit fortnightly progress reports through the DGP, CID, to the govt. The formation of the SIT signals the state govt’s intent to take strong action against corruption in APSBCL, a key agency in Andhra Pradesh’s excise sector.
The case booked under Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was based on a complaint from the principal secretary to the Govt, Revenue (Vigilance-IV) department, AP secretariat, Velagapudi. The complaint alleged large-scale corruption and financial mismanagement within APSBCL, the state-run entity responsible for liquor distribution.
According to the govt order issued by chief secretary K Vijayanand, the SIT will function under the supervision of the director general of police, CID, and will have full investigative powers under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The team has been empowered to conduct searches, seize documents, examine witnesses, and arrest suspects as per the law.
The SIT will be headed by SV Rajasekhar Babu, commissioner of police, NTR police commissionerate, Vijayawada. Other key members include L Subbarayudu, SP, red sanders anti-smuggling task force, Tirupati; Kolli Srinivas, additional SP, vigilance & enforcement department, Ongole; R Srihari Babu, additional SP, CID, Mangalagiri; P Srinivas, DSP, Dhone (L&O), Nandyal district; and inspectors K Shivaji and Ch. Naga Srinivas.
The govt has directed all departments to cooperate with the SIT and provide necessary assistance, including technical support and relevant documents. The SIT has also been granted the authority to co-opt officers from other departments if required.
The team is required to submit fortnightly progress reports through the DGP, CID, to the govt. The formation of the SIT signals the state govt’s intent to take strong action against corruption in APSBCL, a key agency in Andhra Pradesh’s excise sector.
