Centre will probe liquor scam in Andhra: C.M. Ramesh
Amaravati, Oct 26 : The Centre will soon order a probe into liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh, BJP leader C.M. Ramesh said on Thursday.
He said the BJP has complained to the Centre with the names of the leaders of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) involved in the scam.
He said the Centre will soon order a probe into it by the agencies like ED and CBI.
He alleged that there was rampant corruption in liquor, mining, electricity and other sectors in the state.
He said those involved will be exposed after assembly elections in five states.
Meanwhile, suspended YSRCP MLA and former Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has demanded state BJP president Daggubati Purandeswari to convince the Centre to order a comprehensive probe into the liquor scam.
He said that it is not enough for the state BJP chief to come before the media and talk about the massive liquor scam.
Stating that the BJP which is in power at the Centre, Ramnarayan Reddy said Purandeswari should impress upon Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the need for an in-depth probe by Central investigation agencies like the Serious Fraud Investigation Office and Enforcement Directorate.
Purandeswari has stepped up attack on YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government over the alleged liquor scam.
She claimed that 16 companies out of 100 plus registered with the APSBCL are supplying 74 per cent of the liquor.
She slammed the state government for not revealing the names of the owners of distilleries supplying liquor to the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL).
The former union minister alleged that some important distilleries among the 16 are owned by YSRCP MPs V. Vijayasai Reddy and P.V. Mithun Reddy.
She said the YSRCP government changed the liquor policy on October 2, 2019 to take over all the liquor shops, and the APSBCL started sourcing liquors from the distilleries registered with it for supply to all the retail outlets in the state.
She claimed that several of the distilleries were taken over by the ruling parties.
She said a distillery which received Rs 1,164 crore order, is backed by Vijayasai Reddy.
Purandeswari said another company was taken over forcibly by Mithun Reddy and it was given Rs 1,863 crore order.
She claimed that the company produces liquor under the brands that came to light only after 2019.
The BJP leader asked Jagan Mohan Reddy as to what happened to his poll promise to implement total prohibition in a phased manner.
She wanted to know what action he was taking against those indulging in the illegal sale of liquor.
Meanwhile, state minister Botsa Satyanarayana said the government had been trying to discourage people from consuming liquor but tipplers are not ready to give up the habit.
"Let them investigate," he remarked when his reaction was sought on the statement of BJP leaders that they have complained to the Centre on alleged liquor scam and urged it to order a probe.