Liquor Scam: ‘Rs 1.30 Lakh Cr cash transaction is a Record’

Senior TDP leader and Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy alleged that transactions worth Rs 1.30 lakh crore were done at liquor shops during the YCP regime. The staggering number could set a world record in the category of highest number of cash transactions in liquor business, while the entire country has switched to digital transactions following the push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ‘record number’ of cash transactions during the digital age had raised many eyebrows during the YCP regime.

Raghu Ramakrishna Raju, who had been vocal in opposing Jagan on various issues, repeatedly alleged that the YCP government was looting the government exchequer by insisting on cash transactions at the wine shops.

Several times, RRR dared the then YCP government to introduce online transactions at the wine shops, if there was no rerouting of funds from the wine shops. However, Jagan never issued orders for the switch over to online transactions. Moreover, the entire liquor business, managed by the AP Beverages Corporation, was taken into government control from the manufacturing to the retail distribution of the bottles. There had been reports that the liquor distilleries were run by YCP-backed senior leaders.

The TDP leaders criticised former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy for leaving the promise of prohibition, under the YCP rule, unfulfilled and embezzling a significant profit share of the funds earned through management of liquor sales.

Further, the YCP regime also has the dubious distinction of selling ‘anonymous brands’ of liquor to the consumers, putting their health at risk. Reputed national and international liquor brands were prohibited from selling their products in the state for five full years. Several new brands like President Medal, Boom Boom, Special Status appeared in the shelves and people had no other option than to buy the same. There were allegations that cheap liquor was being sold in new names, and hence, could pose serious health hazard.

The YCP had systematically hijacked the liquor business and made huge profits from it, the TDP leaders alleged. Somireddy demanded that the liquor scam should be probed either by the CBI or the SIT and truth should be brought to the light.