In a dramatic escalation of the Andhra Pradesh liquor policy scandal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed simultaneous raids on Friday at the premises of five key figures implicated in a corruption saga worth thousands of crores. The operations, spanning Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Tirupati, mark a pivotal phase in unraveling one of the state’s most notorious financial frauds.
The targeted individuals include influential YSR Congress politician and ex-legislator Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, central figure Kesireddy Rajasekhar Reddy, Balaji Govindappa of Bharti Cements, ex-OSD Krishna Mohan, and former CMO secretary Dhunanjay Reddy. ED sleuths combed through their homes and offices, seizing documents and digital records that could expose the scam’s inner workings.
Prompted by the SIT’s findings, these raids follow ED’s recent questioning of four suspects, including Mohan and Reddy, on March 9. Their proximity to former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration adds a layer of political intrigue to the case.
Just days earlier, ED attached assets valued at 441.63 crores linked to Rajasekhar Reddy’s network, including family members and associates such as Boonetty Chanakya and Donthireddy Vasudev Reddy. This PMLA-driven freeze underscores the scale of money laundering involved.
Originating from a CID FIR on the Principal Secretary’s complaint, the probe highlights a 4,000 crore drain on state coffers. Investigators have mapped a kickback ecosystem where cash was stockpiled in Hyderabad and funneled elsewhere by syndicate insiders. A whopping 1,048.45 crores in illicit gains have been traced, extracted through forced payments from distilleries in cash or gold, manipulated operations, and transport rackets.
The dirty money fueled real estate splurges and personal enrichment, with accusations of systematic hiding and diversion of funds. With raids ongoing, the ED is poised to peel back more layers, possibly leading to arrests and broader indictments that could reverberate through Andhra’s power structures.
