ED Arrests Key Accused in ₹3,200 Crore Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Raj Kesireddy, former IT advisor to ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, from his Hyderabad residence on Thursday in connection with the AP liquor scam. The case involves alleged manipulation of excise policy to benefit certain liquor companies through kickbacks, with investigators probing money laundering under PMLA. The arrests signal a renewed push in the investigation, with reports suggesting Jagan Mohan Reddy himself may soon be questioned as a potential end-beneficiary.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Raj Kesireddy, alleged to be a central figure in the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, from his Nanakramguda residence in Hyderabad on Thursday. D. Vasudeva Reddy, former Managing Director of the AP State Beverages Corporation Ltd (APSBCL), was also arrested. ED teams simultaneously searched at least five premises linked to the accused, recovering Rs 8 lakh in cash, two Rolex watches, premium vehicles, and incriminating documents and digital devices. The investigation, registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), centers on allegations that thousands of crores of rupees were siphoned through hawala transactions during the YSR Congress Party regime. Estimates of the scam's scale vary across sources, with figures cited ranging from Rs 195 crore in direct government losses to broader allegations of Rs 3,200–3,500 crore in total illicit proceeds. The SIT has alleged that Kesireddy collected Rs 50–60 crore monthly and funneled funds to senior YSRCP figures. The acceleration of the probe has raised concerns within the YSRCP, with speculation that Jagan Mohan Reddy could be named as the primary accused if established as the ultimate beneficiary.
What's missing
The sources cite significantly different figures for the scam's total value — Rs 195.33 crore (Times of India), Rs 3,200 crore (The Hindu and Gulte), and Rs 3,500 crore (Gulte) — without reconciling these discrepancies. No source clarifies whether these figures refer to different components of the case or reflect different stages of the investigation.
How coverage differed
The Hindu and Times of India reported the arrests in straightforward investigative terms, focusing on legal proceedings and recovered assets. Gulte framed the story more politically, emphasizing the threat of arrest to Jagan Mohan Reddy and the potential electoral implications of the alleged kickbacks.
What different sources said
- Times of IndiaCenter
'Rolex watches, premium vehicles': ED arrests ex-AP govt IT advisor Raj Kesireddy in Rs 195 crore liquor
- The HinduCenter
ED officials arrest Kasireddy Rajasekhar Reddy in A.P. liquor transport scam
- GulteCenter
Speed In AP Liquor Case Worries Jagan, Impending Arrest Danger?
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