Andhra liquor scam: Accused Avinash Reddy surrenders before SIT after Supreme Court denies bail
A division bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, directed Avinash Reddy to surrender and cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
By - Newsmeter Network
Vijayawada: Muppidi Avinash Reddy, named as Accused No. 7 in the alleged Rs 3,500-crore Andhra Pradesh liquor policy scam, surrendered before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Vijayawada on Thursday, complying with directions issued by the Supreme Court.
His surrender came two days after the apex court declined to grant him anticipatory bail and ordered him to present himself before the investigating agency by February 26.
Supreme Court refuses anticipatory bail
A division bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, directed Avinash Reddy to surrender and cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
The court rejected his plea for protection from arrest but granted him liberty to seek regular bail before the trial court. Avinash Reddy had approached the apex court after the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.
Prosecution’s allegations
During the hearing, the prosecution argued that the accused had been evading arrest and was suspected of attempting to flee the country. It further alleged that the main accused in the case, Raj Kesi Reddy, had facilitated his escape abroad.
Investigators have alleged that Avinash Reddy played a role in laundering money collected as commissions from liquor suppliers and diverting funds to overseas safe havens.
The problem with ‘irregularities in excise policy’ in AP
The case pertains to alleged large-scale irregularities in the excise policy implemented in Andhra Pradesh between 2019 and 2024, during the YSRCP regime.
The SIT has claimed that the policy was manipulated to favour select distilleries and new liquor brands in exchange for kickbacks.
According to investigators, nearly Rs 3,500 crore was siphoned off in over five years through a structured kickback network, resulting in significant losses to the State exchequer.
Registration of case and SIT probe
Following the change in government in 2024, the TDP-led NDA administration registered a case at the CID Police Station in Mangalagiri under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) initially began the probe based on a complaint from an Excise Department official.
Subsequently, the government constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by NTR District Commissioner of Police SV Rajashekhar Babu to conduct a detailed inquiry.
Multiple accused named
The SIT has reportedly named several individuals and entities in the case, including sitting and former MPs, retired IAS officers, distillery firms and operators of shell companies.
The investigation is ongoing, with the SIT continuing to examine financial transactions, policy decisions and the alleged kickback trail linked to the liquor policy implemented between 2019 and 2024.
