Jagan using alcohol shops to amass black money: Pattabhi Ram

Mr. Ram alleged that the Chief Minister has been amassing huge black money by making cheap liquor in his own benami distillery companies, transporting it through his own networks, and selling it in the government shops. He alleged that the Jagan Mohan Reddy regime was accepting only cash at government liquor shops to make black money.

Addressing a press conference here, the TDP leader said Jagan, during a recent review meeting, wrongly claimed that his government is taking steps towards phased prohibition. It is interesting that Jagan held his latest review meeting on liquor, sand, and drugs - all his favourite sources to make black money, he added.

Mr. Ram advised the Chief Minister to check his Excise department dashboard before making false claims that liquor consumption was coming down. As per the dashboard, the sale of IML liquor rose by 43 lakh cases when compared to last year. Over 36.59 lakh beer cases were sold this year against 14.97 lakh cases last year, which was a rise by over 21 lakh beer cases, the TDP leader alleged. How can Jagan say that his government is taking steps to reduce alcohol consumption? he asked and added that more shops and malls were being opened in the name of tourism promotion.

He demanded the YSRCP government explain to the public why its liquor shops were not accepting digital payments. The whole country is promoting digital payments but not the Jagan regime. Cash transactions at liquor shops in the state were only aimed at amassing black money, the TDP leader said and alleged that the Chief Minister was using this black money to pay the Taliban and bring drugs into India. This was bringing a five-fold increase in returns, he added.

Mr. Ram further alleged that false accounts were being maintained in liquor distilleries and transportation and sales shops. When one lakh cases are sold in the shops, only 50,000 cases are shown in the books, he alleged and added that the YSRCP regime pushed ports into private hands only to use them for smuggling of drugs. The Kakinada port was under the control of Aurobindo and Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram ports were in the hands of Adani. One Sudhakar, who was arrested in Rs. 21,000 crore heroin seizure, got his company registered in the vicinity of Jagan's official residence and in the heart of Vijayawada city, the TDP leader said.