ED summons YSRCP’s Midhun Reddy in liquor case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned YSR Congress Party MP, PV Midhun Reddy for questioning in connection with a multi-crore liquor scam. Midhun Reddy has been directed to appear before the ED officials on January 23.
Amaravati: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned YSR Congress Party MP, PV Midhun Reddy for questioning in connection with a multi-crore liquor scam. Midhun Reddy has been directed to appear before the ED officials on January 23.
The Andhra Pradesh Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the liquor scam, had arrested Midhun Reddy on July 19.
The Rajampet MP, is one of the accused in the Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam, which allegedly occurred during the YSRCP rule. He was released on bail on September 30.
The ED earlier summoned former Rajya Sabha member V. Vijayasai Reddy. The agency last week served notice to Vijayasai Reddy directing him to appear before the Investigating Officers on January 22.
The ED has taken up the probe based on a FIR issued by the Andhra Pradesh police.
Vijayasai Reddy, who quit YSRCP and also resigned as Rajya Sabha member in January last year, was questioned by the SIT as a witness.
The case relates to the multi-crore scandal allegedly committed by manipulating excise policy and receiving kickbacks from distilleries.
After the TDP-led NDA came to power in 2024, a case was registered at the CID Police Station in Mangalagiri under Sections 409, 420, 120 (B), r/w 34 and 37 of IPC and Section 7, 7A, 8, 12, 13 (1), (b), 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) initially conducted an investigation following a complaint by an official of the Excise Department. Later, the government constituted the SIT, headed by NTR District Commissioner of Police S.V. Rajashekhar Babu, to probe the case.
The SIT found large-scale irregularities and fund misappropriation in the liquor policy implemented during 2019-24.
Investigators reportedly uncovered a kickback network involving nearly Rs 3,500 crore siphoned off over five years.
There are allegations that the YSR Congress Party leaders encouraged the new liquor policy, floated new brands, received kickbacks from the distillery companies, causing huge losses to the government.
The SIT has named several accused in the case including MPs, retired IAS officers, distillery companies and shell company owners.
