Minor Irrigation Minister TG Venkatesh on Tuesday stated that the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was considering to make a special law to check irregularities in the liquor syndicate.
Talking to media persons after participating in a programme, Venkatesh said that the Chief Minister would soon convene a meeting to discuss the new law. He also announced that the contents of the report of the Anti Corruption Bureau would be made public. The government would disclose the names of politicians, officials, police and journalists, whose names figured in the receiving kickbacks from the liquor syndicate, he said.
The Minister said that the government would deal with the liquor mafia with a firm hand under the new law and nobody, irrespective of their position, would be spared if found guilty. He also suspected the involvement of leaders of all political parties in the liquor scam. (INN)
2011/12/19 9:55:27 Demanding removal of ministers having alleged nexus with the liquor mafia, the Telugu Desam Party on Monday staged a dharna at Gollapudi on the National Highway No 9 disrupting the traffic.
Leading the agitation, MLA Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao demanded that the government disclose the details of report of raids by the Anti Corruption Bureau on the liquor syndicate last week. Asking the government to initiate action against those Ministers for their alleged involvement, he alleged that one-third of the cabinet ministers might be involved in the liquor scam. He also alleged that the family members of Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana were having a nexus with the liquor mafia.
Devineni alleged that the liquor syndicate in collusion with the ministers was selling the liquor at higher price in shops violating the MRP and other norms fixed by the government. He demanded that the Chief Minister give an explanation over the issue to clear the doubts among people.
The TDP activists also burnt effigy of the State Government during the protest. (INN)
TDP demands probe into ministers-liquor mafia nexus
2011/12/17 16:50:35 The Telugu Desam Party on Saturday demanded that the government order high level probe against the ministers who have allegedly received bribes from the liquor mafia in the state.
Talking to media persons at NTR Trust Bhavan, TDP MLA Motkupalli Narasimhulu demanded that the state government order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the allegations that some ministers and officials have nexus with the liquor mafia. He said that the Anti Corruption Bureau raids on liquor syndicate have clearly exposed that the ministers were receiving bribe to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore. He alleged that the government was playing with lives of thousands of people in order to mobilize funds for populist schemes.
TDP MLA Bojja Gopala Krishna Reddy demanded that the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy resign from his post owning moral responsibility for alleged nexus between his Cabinet Ministers and the liquor syndicate.
Another MLA Mandava Venkateswara Rao demanded that the government disclose the details of ACB raids on liquor syndicate. (INN)
TDP's state wide protest against liquor mafia on Dec 26
2011/12/20 17:26:38 The Telugu Desam Party will hold protests before the District Collectorate across the State on December 26 against fleecing of poor consumers with exorbitant prices by liquor mafia and syndicates in the State.
Addressing a press conference at NTR Trust Bhavan here on Tuesday, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu questioned the silence of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the exposure of corrupt activities of the liquor syndicate during the raids conducted by the Anti Corruption Bureau across the state. He demanded that the State Government convene an all party meeting to discuss the issue of liquor scam.
Naidu said that he would meet the Chief Minister on Thursday and Governor E S L Narasimhan on December 24 to explain the financial damage due liquor syndicates. He demanded that every liquor shop should put a MRP board for consumer’s benefit. The government should close belt-shops across the State and also book criminal charges against all those involved in the liquor syndicates.
Naidu alleged that the government has thrown all social responsibilities to wind and playing games with the lives of people by acting irresponsibly. He also slammed Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana for openly justifying and defending the continuance of liquor syndicates in the state.
Instead of prohibiting liquor, Naidu said that the government itself was promoting the liquor consumption for mobilizing funds.
The TDP chief demanded that the government disclose the names of all the ministers and MLAs who were found involved in the liquor mafia. “It is high time for the government to announce a new permit system for liquor shops to put an end to the nexus between liquor syndicate and others,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam Mahila unit leaders and workers staged a dharna in front of the Nampally Excise Commissioner’s Office demanding dismissal of Ministers who are patronising the liquor syndicates. (INN)
2012/1/13 13:54:32 Condemning Naidu for levelling charges against him in connection with the liquor syndicate, he said that no member from his family was involved with the liquor mafia.
Botsa also asked YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy to stop 'malicious' campaign against the government in the name of farmers' cause. He reiterated that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy Government was committed for the welfare of farmers and have been taking all steps to rescue them. He said opposition parties were staging protests on farmers' issues to get political advantage. (INN)
TDP accuses Mopidevi of stalling Hologram to track liquor sales
2012/4/25 3:25:09 Hyderabad, April 25 (INN): Telugu Desam Party deputy floor leader Gali Muddu Krishanamma Naidu on Wednesday alleged that the State Government has deliberately stalled the introduction of Hologram to track liquor manufacturing and sales in the State.
Talking to reporters at the Telugu Desam Legislature Party office, Muddu Krishanamma Naidu said that the concept of Hologram with Track and Trace system could have prevented the formation of liquor syndicates in the State. He said the system could have helped in tracking the liquor bottle from the time of manufacturing till the last point of sale by the consumer at the Retail Liquor outlet. However, he alleged that Prohibition and Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana deliberately stalled the process.
The TDP leader alleged that one company - Holostik India Pvt Ltd and retail liquor syndicate were trying to find means and ways to cancel the tender due to their vested interest. He said a total of eight bidders participated in the tender process for Hologram and three were even shortlisted by a high-level committee consisting of officials of different departments.
Muddu Krishanamma Naidu claimed that during the process of scrutinising the other bidders in fray the department has stumbled upon one of the bidders - Holistick India Pvt Ltd and OTIC, who were allegedly having direct link with liquor mafia. After subsequent meetings, the consortium was disqualified due to the conflict of interest.
He alleged that the Excise Minister then directed the Excise Department to qualify the disqualified company ignoring the conflict of interest. A furore was created in the assembly regarding the minister's stand to support the disqualified company having direct links with the liquor mafia.
Muddu Krishanamma Naidu said that the High Court too has favoured the tender process and rejected the plea of disqualified bidders. However, he alleged that the minister was planning to cancel the HPFS tender under the influence of liquor mafia. By cancellation of this tender process, the government could not invite the tender for such requirement for another six months as per vigilance guidelines. Even if the tender is invited after six months, the selection process will take another four to six months.
The TDP leader alleged that the Excise Minister was trying to delay the introduction of Hologram by about three years so as to allow the liquor syndicates to operate without any check. He demanded that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy intervene on the issue. He said that the government should order a probe into the tender process and open the financial bid at the earliest.
2011/12/19 1:24:45 The Telugu Desam Party on Sunday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation into the liquor scam in the state.Addressing a press conference at district party office, TDP MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao demanded that the government register cases against those Ministers for their alleged involvement in the liquor mafia.He said the CBI probe into excise-police-political nexus would come up with complete details and reveal more names in a couple of days.
He said the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) searches at the offices of liquor syndicates in several parts of the state have revealed the nexus between the Ministers and liquor syndicate.
He suspected that the family members of Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana might have been involved in the liquor syndicate. He demanded the ACB officials to reveal the documents which were seized during the raids in the state.
Meanwhile the Communist Party of India state secretary K Narayana demanded that the government order CB-CID probe into liquor scam in the State (INN).
2012/2/7 23:13:12 In a sensational disclosure, Anti-Corruption Bureau officials have stated before the court of the special judge for ACB cases at Hyderabad that excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao had received `10 lakh from liquor syndicate leader Nunna Venkataramana as “protection money”.
A resident of Khammam, Mr Venkataramana, 44, has stakes in 29 wine shops and is involved with 10 liquor syndicates besides having influence over 80 wine shops in Khammam and Warangal districts.
In their remand report, seeking the custody of Mr Venkataramana on February 3, officials of the ACB Warangal Range (which includes Warangal and Khammam) had stated that the licence to run these liquor shops was obtained in July 2010 for the period between July 2010 and June 2012.
According to the statement recorded by the ACB Warangal, Mr Venkataramana had told officials that he had paid `10 lakh to excise minister Venkataramana Rao at the ministers’ quarters at Banjara Hills in the presence of one Mr Babji, owner of Chandra Wines, Khammam, and Mr Rajababu alias Raja, who is said to be a classmate of the minister.
2012/1/29 14:33:56 The Anti Corruption Bureau will submit its report to the ACB Court on liquor syndicate on Monday.
In a statement, the ACB said that it would submit its 750-page report to the court about the raids conducted in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Prakasam, Krishna, Guntur, Warangal, East and West Godavari districts. Along with the report, the ACB will also submit several key documents, records and other material seized during the raids across the State.
The ACB said that 11 members of liquor syndicate and eight officials from the Excise Department were arrested in the case. The ACB, during its raids, has reportedly found one excise inspector in possession of Rs 22 lakh and two excise sub-inspectors received Rs 10 lakh each as kickbacks.
The report is likely to expose the nexus between the liquor mafia, excise and police officials and also the journalists. (INN)
2012/1/9 15:01:02 Bitten by the recent hooch tragedy which claimed 19 lives in Krishna district, the State government plans to recruit 2,500 excise constables to check the flow of spurious liquor
Talking to media persons after releasing a New Year diary in his chamber at Secretariat, he said that “The notification for constable posts would be issued soon” Prohibition and Excise Minister Moidevi Venkataramana told reporters here on Monday.
The constables would be recruited under the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s pet Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu programme, he said.
To check spurious liquor menace, he said, the government would introduce hologram on liquor bottles and tenders for issuing hologram have been also finalised.
Reiterating that the government has not given any new permits for distilleries, he said, the existing distilleries have been asked to produce additional liquor to meet the demand.
“This year the permission given for production of 1.60 lakh litres compared to 80 lakh litres last year,” he said adding that the government has no plans to increase retail price of liquor. (INN)
Minister links with liquor syndicate, proofs shown in the house
2012/2/15 6:26:51 The Telugu Desam Party on Wednesday demanding the removal of four cabinet ministers for their alleged nexus with the liquor syndicate.
The TDP MLAs led by Gali Muddukrishnamma Naidu met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy in the assembly premises and submitted a set of documents which reportedly contained evidence that four ministers had nexus with the liquor syndicate. They alleged that ministers - Dharmana Prasad Rao, Ram Reddy Venkat, Botsa Satyanarayana and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana were having connections with the members of the liquor mafia.
The documents submitted to the Chief Minister include a contract brewing license agreement between the Arthos Breweries limited and Credence Venture Capital.
Later, talking to reporters Muddukrishnamma Naidu said that the TDP MLAs have requested the Chief Minister to allot at least two hours for the discussion on liquor syndicate issue. He said while Thanks Giving Motion on Governor's Address too was important, the House should also discuss the liquor syndicate issue on priority.
They TDP MLAs also demanded that all documents related to the raids conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau be placed before the House.
MLAs Motkupalli Narasimhulu and D Narendra were part of the TDP delegation. (INN)
2012/2/17 6:53:37 The anti Corruption Bureau has appointed a Special Investigation Team to deal with the liquor syndicate issue in the State.
According to sources, the SIT would have 11 senior officials led by Additional Director Srinivasa Rao to probe into the activities of liquor syndicate in the State. (INN)
2012/2/12 7:49:52 The Lok Satta Party on Sunday demanded that the government do away with special and discretionary funds being allocated to the Chief Minister and MLAs and utilize them for priority sectors.
In a media statement, Lok Satta working president DVVS Varma said that the priorities in the forthcoming budget should shift from extending temporary sops to making people self-reliant. It should allocate funds for ensuring quality education, healthcare and skills to all, baling out agriculture from crisis, and rejuvenating industry. Local governments should be empowered with devolution of funds and powers.
During the budget session of the Legislative Assembly beginning from February 13, Varma said that the party would focus its attention on the liquor policy, relief to the crisis-ridden farmer, elections to local bodies and resolution of issues raised by various sections. He appealed to all parties to help facilitate a thorough discussion on the issues.
Varma said that all parties should join hands in getting the present liquor policy, which has spawned a politics-dictating liquor mafia, changed.
He appealed to all parties to pass the budget only after a thorough discussion. (INN)
Naidu seeks CM's explanation on ACB officials' transfer
2012/4/7 4:12:41 Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday accused the State Government of shielding the corrupt ministers who are having nexus with the liquor syndicate.
Talking to media persons at NTR Trust Bhavan, Naidu alleged that the government was trying to protect the Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana and others from the liquor scam. He accused the government of transferring the sincere officials to water down the investigations into liquor scam. He said that the transfer of outright officials like ACB Joint Director K Srinivasa Reddy would definitely affect the morale of department.
Naidu alleged that the government effected the transfer of ACB investigation officials at the crucial phase to divert the attention of the people and to shield the corrupt ministers. He asked Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to give an explanation over the transfers and for what purpose he promoted Srinivasa Reddy to Coastal Security.
Stating that 140 elected representatives were allegedly having links with the liquor syndicate, he said that the Chief Minister and Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana have no moral right to continue on their posts for trying to punish the honest officials. He said that the government was playing with people’s health and their lives.
Naidu reiterated that his party would intensify its agitation against the liquor mafia in the State. (INN)
2011/12/22 17:28:12 Former minister T Jeevan Reddy on Thursday demanded that the State Government immediately disclose the report of Anti Corruption Bureau on the raids that it conducted across the state on liquor syndicate. He said the contents should be made public as several politicians, police officials and journalists have reportedly been named by the ACB for receiving kickbacks from the liquor syndicate.
Talking to media persons at Public Gardens in Nampally, Jeevan Reddy asked the government to maintain transparency by disclosing the details of key documents seized during the ACB raids. If the government fails to release the report early, he said it would send a wrong message among the public that government was shielding the ministers, who are allegedly involved in receiving the kickbacks.
Jeevan Reddy appealed to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to make concrete efforts to improve the image of the State government by taking severe action on the guilty as per the law.
Based on the population in an area, he said the government should give liquor permits. With liquor shops selling sachets at exorbitant prices violating the government fixed rates, he urged the Excise Commissioner to take all steps for the display of MRP in front of liquor shops. He also slammed the government for not making concrete efforts to check proliferation of illegal belt shops in rural areas. (INN)
Excise Minister in fix with liquor syndicate bribes
2012/2/21 2:36:05 According to reports the liquor syndicate broker Ramana who is in ACB custody, during the interrogation has revealed shocking information about Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana. Although, the minister condemns of meeting Ramana and taking bribe of Rs.10 lakhs from him, he reiterated that the Minister made a settlement between him and another syndicate owner at his own house and took Rs.10 lakhs bribe for it. Soon after the Minister's name surfaced in the liquor syndicate issue the state Government has hushed-up the matter stating he was innocent. The Minister also came to media as if he was victim of some big conspiracy.
Disclose the names of liquor kickback recipients: LS
2011/12/20 17:22:56 The Lok Satta Party on Tuesday demanded that the State Government straightway disclose the names of people's representatives, officials and others who have received kickbacks from liquor syndicates.
It may be recalled that the State's Anti Corruption Bureau had raided the offices of liquor syndicates and seized documents testifying to payment of bribes to influential people for conniving at their illegal activities.
Addressing a media conference, Lok Satta Party Acting Working President V Laxman Balaji and other leaders said that the Government should inquire into the scam without delay and mete out stringent punishment including confiscation of ill-gotten property to the guilty.
The leaders recalled that it is only the Lok Satta Party which had agitated against auction of liquor shops as it anticipated its inexorable consequences. Those who obtained liquor shops at exorbitant rates have been indulging in malpractices like selling liquor at more than maximum retail prices, palming off spurious liquor, encouraging opening of belt shops and running unofficial bars at licensed retail outlets.
They alleged that traditional political parties like the Congress and the Telugu Desam, which believe in luring voters with liquor, running liquor shops in benami names and accepting party funds from liquor mafia did not join the Lok Satta in its agitation.
Both the Congress and the TDP had been guilty of turning liquor into a cash cow for the State exchequer and ruining the health and finances of the poor, they charged. The poor are squandering their earnings under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on consuming liquor as liquor shops have become omnipresent. They demanded that the Government publish a white paper on the funds it spends on the welfare of the poor and the revenue it derives from liquor sales.
The Lok Satta leaders demanded that the Government run liquor shops by doing away with the auction system. It should put an end to belt shops and illicit liquor, and drastically regulate the number of liquor outlets. Village panchayats should have the freedom to decide whether there should be a liquor outlet in the village or not, they added. (INN)
2011/9/15 8:45:53 Malayalam superstar Mammootty has produced a documentary asking people to shun liquor, and said he too would do so -- on the screen.
Mammotty's 40-second film with a message - Say No to Liquor and Say No to Drugs - was unveiled Thursday by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
"I always try to avoid such scenes but at times it becomes imperative to do it because the situation demands it," Mammootty said at the event.
"From now on I will do my best to avoid such scenes which depict liquor or liquor imposed scenes," added Mammootty, the top actor of the Malayalam film industry for two decades.
Pointing to director Priyadarshan at the event, Mammootty said: "You have to ask people like him (Priyadarshan) because they ask us to do this and that. But let me tell you, I will do my best to do away with such scenes."
Chandy said people should try to rid Kerala of the tag of being India's largest liquor consumer.
"Not long ago Kerala was known for the huge strides it made in literacy and its health status. But of late it has taken a back seat and we are now known as the top liquor consuming state.
"This has to change. We hope that promotional material like this (Mammootty's documentary) will do us a world of good," the chief minister said.
According to a report, liquor sales rose to all time high of Rs.6,730.30 crore in 2010-11 from Rs.5,539.85 crore in 2009-10. (IANS)
2011/12/19 17:15:14 The Communist Party of India will participate in the by-elections likely to be held in 24 assembly constituencies in the State.
While seven seats are already vacant, 17 more assembly segments would go for by-polls if the rebel Congress MLAs gets disqualified for violating the party whip. CPI state secretary K Narayana on Monday announced that the party would contest from all the constituencies going for by-elections. However, Narayana told reporters that a final decision in this regard would be taken by January 6-7 after discussing the issue in the party's executive committee meeting to be held in Hyderabad.
Narayana demanded that the State Government come out with the comprehensive details of raids conducted by the Anti Corruption Bureau on liquor shops as they have exposed the nexus between the ministers and the liquor mafia. He said that the government should order a high-level probe into the liquor scam and punish the guilty, irrespective of their position.
He also announced that the CPI would stage protests in front of Excise Offices across the state on December 21 demanding that the liquor shops sell sachets as per the government fixed MRP. (INN)
2012/5/15 7:19:26 Hyderabad, May 15 (INN): The Lok Satta Party on Tuesday termed the State Government’s move to grant liquor shop licenses on a lottery basis as "nothing but old wine in new bottle." The lottery system, which was in vogue until 2004, too has the potential for formation of syndicates and all the evils that go with them.
In a letter, Lok Satta Party Working President D V V S Varma requested Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy to convene an all-party meeting for discussing the new liquor policy.
According to media reports, the Cabinet sub-committee which studied the systems prevailing in a number of States suggested that liquor shops be allotted on a lottery basis. He pointed out it is strange that the sub-committee seeks to revive the Chandrababu Naidu Government policy instead of opting for State take-over of retail trade in liquor as in Delhi and Tamil Nadu.
Varma said that most political parties in the State are in favor of the State Government taking over retail liquor trade and restricting liquor consumption through limiting the number of shops and the days and hours of their working.
He warned the Chief Minister that revival of the Chandrababu policy will neither produce good results nor enhance the Government's image.
2012/2/15 7:06:05 TDP leaders stage dharna against liquor syndicate before Hyderabad Collectorate here on Wednesday.
PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana alleges that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is having secret pact with opposition leader Chandrababu. In the wake of his statement, the TDP spearheading on liquor syndicate issue should be considered to be a strategic move made by Chandrababu Naidu on behalf of Kiran Kumar Reddy, who wants to square Botsa Satyanarayana to safeguard his chair.
The recent raids by ACB on liquor syndicates is also said to be mainly aimed at Botsa Satyanarayana, who is said to be handling liquor syndicates in his place. However, the ACB raids were misfired and they unearths the unethical links between political leaders and liquor syndicates, especially finding Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana's name in top in liquor syndicates bribe-log-book, creates havoc in the party circles. So, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy position has suddenly changed from offensive to defensive position, with these unexpected developments. Then, he might have handed over the 'liquor syndicate' weapon to TDP to fight on his behalf. So is the dharna by TDP?
So, TDP's every move on liquor syndicate obviously fumes Botsa Satyanarayana. That's why he asked the TDP in the floor why it is so keen about only liquor syndicates where as there are many issues to be discussed in the Assembly. His question itself reveals how frustrated he is with liquor syndicate issue raised by TDP, probably on Kiran's behalf.
Demanding removal of ministers having alleged nexus with the liquor mafia, the Telugu Desam Party on Monday staged a dharna at Gollapudi on the National Highway No 9 disrupting the traffic.
The Telugu Desam Party on Saturday demanded that the government order high level probe against the ministers who have allegedly received bribes from the liquor mafia in the state.
Condemning Naidu for levelling charges against him in connection with the liquor syndicate, he said that no member from his family was involved with the liquor mafia.
Bitten by the recent hooch tragedy which claimed 19 lives in Krishna district, the State government plans to recruit 2,500 excise constables to check the flow of spurious liquor
The Lok Satta Party on Sunday demanded that the government do away with special and discretionary funds being allocated to the Chief Minister and MLAs and utilize them for priority sectors.
Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday accused the State Government of shielding the corrupt ministers who are having nexus with the liquor syndicate.
Former minister T Jeevan Reddy on Thursday demanded that the State Government immediately disclose the report of Anti Corruption Bureau on the raids that it conducted across the state on liquor syndicate. He said the contents should be made public as several politicians, police officials and journalists have reportedly been named by the ACB for receiving kickbacks from the liquor syndicate.
According to reports the liquor syndicate broker Ramana who is in ACB custody, during the interrogation has revealed shocking information about Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana. Although, the minister condemns of meeting Ramana and taking bribe of Rs.10 lakhs from him, he reiterated that the Minister made a settlement between him and another syndicate owner at his own house and took Rs.10 lakhs bribe for it. Soon after the Minister's name surfaced in the liquor syndicate issue the state Government has hushed-up the matter stating he was innocent. The Minister also came to media as if he was victim of some big conspiracy.
The Lok Satta Party on Tuesday demanded that the State Government straightway disclose the names of people's representatives, officials and others who have received kickbacks from liquor syndicates.
Malayalam superstar Mammootty has produced a documentary asking people to shun liquor, and said he too would do so -- on the screen.
The Communist Party of India will participate in the by-elections likely to be held in 24 assembly constituencies in the State.
