Jagan should own up responsibility for liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh, says TDP leader Anam Venkataramana Reddy

TDP spokesman Anam Venkataramana Reddy has demanded that the former Chief Minister, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, explain the role of his close associates and family members in the alleged multi-crore liquor scam during his term in Andhra Pradesh.

“How can he (Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy) feign ignorance in spite of having close links with the main accused, including former Rajya Sabha member V. Vijaya Sai Reddy, MP P.V. Midhun Reddy, Kessireddy Rajashekhar Reddy, former MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, Venkatesh Naidu,” the TDP leader questioned while addressing the media at the party central office, near Mangalagiri, in Guntur district on Wednesday.

Mr. Venkata Ramana Reddy said the YSRCP leaders were weaving stories of their own as part of their attempts to save themselves, and they were trying to distance themselves from Mr. Venkatesh Naidu, who was seen in a video clip stacking the alleged illegal cash of ₹11 crore that had been seized by the SIT personnel probing the case.

The TDP leader said the YSRCP leaders were misleading the public and shielding those involved in the scam, and insisted that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy would eventually be left with no option but to own up responsibility for it.

One conspicuous thing in the scam was that the YSRCP Government got substandard liquor sold even after the lab reports exposed their inferior quality, and another striking irregularity was barring digital payments at the liquor shops.

Most importantly, a few YSRCP leaders had “captured distilleries” by intimidating their proprietors, Mr. Venkata Ramana Reddy said, while pointing out that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case against money laundering that allegedly took place through the government liquor shops in Tamil Nadu, which were doing business for over 25 years.