ED Raids Hit Hyderabad and Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam Probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) swung into action on Thursday, raiding several spots in Hyderabad and Secunderabad as part of a major money laundering investigation. Officials targeted properties connected to local businessmen, digging deeper into the massive Andhra Pradesh liquor scam.
Teams from the central agency searched luxury villas in Wellington Enclave, West Maredpally, Secunderabad, and other sites in Mahindra Hills. These raids form part of a nationwide crackdown on middlemen accused of funneling around Rs 3,500 crore through shady benami firms, shell companies, and hawala routes.
The scam dates back to the YSR Congress Party’s (YSRCP) time in power in Andhra Pradesh. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is leading the probe, and just this Monday, they submitted a second supplementary charge sheet to the ACB Court in Vijayawada. It names key players like Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, Venkatesh Naidu, Balaji Kumar Yadav, and Naveen Krishna as conduits who allegedly washed dirty money from the liquor trade into fake accounts and companies.
So far, the SIT has pointed fingers at 48 people in the money laundering case, with 12 already in custody. Four of those arrested recently got bail from the ACB Court. On the flip side, the team plans to bring YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy and others before the court soon to seek more time in judicial custody.
This isn’t the first update—last month, the SIT filed an initial charge sheet spotlighting former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s role. They haven’t charged him directly, but claim he tweaked excise policies to turn the liquor business into a cash cow for illegal gains.
The plot thickens with low-key folks, like office staff and even office boys from the accused’s companies, allegedly roped in as couriers. These insiders shuttled kickbacks from liquor firms into a web of syndicate-linked bank accounts, helping launder the funds.
As the ED’s Hyderabad searches continue, more details could emerge on how this liquor policy scam unraveled into a Rs 3,500 crore money laundering web. Stay tuned for updates on the Andhra Pradesh excise policy controversy.
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