ED registers money laundering case in connection with Rs. 3,200 crore liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh

The 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

New Delhi, May 10

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 officials said that the irregularities reportedly took place during the previous YSRCP government's tenure in the state. 

The 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 investigation.

The 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 21.

The 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 Reddy.

Kasireddy 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 said.

The 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 2024.

 

 

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