AP liquor policy case: CID search Beverages corp ex-MD Vasudeva Reddy’s home in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) sleuths carried out searches at the residence of AP State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) former managing director Donthireddy Vasudeva Reddy in Nanakramguda here on Friday.

The CID officials conducted searches at Vasudev Reddy’s residence on charges of allegedly helping the YSRCP government earn crores by manipulating the liquor trade in AP in the last five years. On April 17, the Election Commission of India (ECI) transferred Vasudeva Reddy from the post of APSBCL MD in response to the allegations of misconduct related to the distribution of liquor.

APSBCL helped YSRCP with alcohol, alleged BJP and TDP

The ECI received complaints from the state presidents of the BJP and TDP, D Purandeswari and K Atchannaidu, who claimed that the APSBCL was illegally helping the YSRCP government with alcohol. In separate accusations, they claimed that the YSRCP functionaries control most of Andhra Pradesh’s distilleries and that illicit booze from these facilities is being transferred to private warehouses for distribution during the elections.

‘APSBCL took thousands of crores of loans’

In her complaint to the ECI, Purandeswari said that the APSBCL had taken thousands of crores of loans by manipulating income and financial records on a large scale.

She also alleged that government liquor shops were set up by the APSBCL and substandard liquor made in government-friendly distilleries was sold in them. Thousands of crores were diverted due to the huge difference in bottling price and selling price.

For the past five years, the opposition has been claiming that the YSRCP has committed violations amounting to thousands of crores of rupees. The BJP has repeatedly complained that in the pretext of a liquor policy, the YSRCP government had raised liquor prices in Andhra Pradesh by thousands of crores and sold only their preferred brands for five years.

‘YSRCP liquor policy benefitted government’

The YSRCP, which came to power in 2019 with the slogan of completeAP liquor policy case: CID search Beverages corp ex-MD Vasudeva Reddy’s home in Hyderabad prohibition of alcohol in AP, increased the price of alcohol twice as soon as the government was formed.

The price of Indian-made foreign liquor was increased from Rs 110 to Rs 330. New brands were brought to the fore to damage the popular brands in the market.

Compared to 2019, the current alcohol prices in AP are 110 per cent more than before. However, the quality has dropped significantly.

Earlier, attempts were made in the name of the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) to stop the smuggling of liquor. Last year, due to the increase in adulterated arrack and smuggling from neighbouring states, prices were cut in half.

There was also a lot of confusion among the public due to APSBCL policies. Due to inconsistency in regulations, the APSBCL made it impossible for booze lovers to know which brand of liquor would be sold every day in the government liquor shops.