Former minister Jogi Ramesh arrested in spurious liquor case after SIT raids residence
The former minister was later shifted to the Excise Office in Vijayawada for interrogation
By - Newsmeter Network
Vijayawada: YSRCP leader and former minister Jogi Ramesh has been arrested in connection with the spurious liquor manufacturing case.
On Sunday morning, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted searches at his residence in Ibrahimpatnam, NTR district. Following the search, police took Jogi Ramesh and his associate Arepalli Ram into custody. The former minister was later shifted to the Excise Office in Vijayawada for interrogation.
According to police sources, Addepalli Janardhana Rao, the prime accused (A1) in the case, had earlier given a statement alleging that he manufactured fake liquor at the instigation of Jogi Ramesh. Rao reportedly claimed that Ramesh promised him ₹3 crore in assistance and that he agreed to the deal believing he could later set up a distillery in Africa with the money.
Investigators revealed that Janardhana Rao confessed to starting the production of fake liquor in Mulakalacheruvu of the erstwhile Chittoor district, with the help of one J. Jayachandra Reddy, following Ramesh’s directions. He also stated that the illicit liquor production was later shifted to Ibrahimpatnam in 2023, during the time Jogi Ramesh served as a minister.
Sources said that Rao submitted a written statement corroborating his claims, and the entire interrogation process was recorded on video as per court orders.
The SIT also collected CCTV footage showing Janardhana Rao’s visit to Jogi Ramesh’s residence on October 23, just before he left for Africa. Based on this evidence, police proceeded to arrest Jogi Ramesh on Sunday.
