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)
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.
2011/12/21 16:37:42 The activists of Communist Party of India on Wednesday staged a dharna before the Excise Department office demanding stern action against those involved in the liquor syndicate.
CPI State Secretary M Narayana, who led the protest, told reporters that the State Government should not shield anyone involved in the liquor syndicate. He demanded that the government disclose the contents of the reports of Anti Corruption Bureau's raids on the liquor syndicate.
Narayana asked the government to take action against the liquor syndicates across the State as they have been fleecing the common man by charging exorbitant rates. He also demanded that the government release a White Paper on the issue. (INN)
High Court serves notices to State, ACB on liquor syndicate probe
2012/2/27 7:15:15 Hyderabad, Feb 27 (INN): The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday served notices to the State Government and Anti-Corruption Bureau over the probe into liquor syndicate.
The notices were issued after the High Court admitted a Public Interest Litigation filed by freedom fighter Devara seeking directions to the government for an impartial probe into the liquor syndicate.
While serving notices, the court directed the government to submit the progress of ACB probe report on liquor syndicates to the court in a sealed cover within three weeks and adjourned the petition for next hearing for three weeks.
In the PIL, the freedom fighter appealed to court to issue directions for an impartial probe as the ACB officials might be influenced by politicians. He appealed to court to order for a judicial probe with sitting High Court judge to get complete details on the alleged nexus of politicians with the liquor syndicate.
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)
Final report on liquor syndicate will be my priority: Prasada Rao
2012/5/22 8:20:13 Hyderabad, May 22 (INN): Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau B Prasad Rao on Tuesday said that the department was in consultation with the legal experts to prepare a final report on the investigations into the liquor syndicate.
Prasad Rao told INN that the ACB would soon finalise the report on the liquor syndicate across the State and submit the same to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He said presently the department was in the process of analysing the outcome of investigations into different cases that there were booked in connection with the liquor syndicate. "Submission of final report to the High Court on liquor syndicate will be my top priority," he said.
Prasad Rao, who took charge as the ACB-DG on Monday, dismissed reports that appeared in a section of media that he was close to Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana. He said he never had any political affiliations and would perform his duties without fear or favour.
He also said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau was not new to him and he has worked with the department for a period of nearly five years. He was with the ACB from 1998 to 2002 and later he was given posting in the department for a period of one year.
Seeking public support to curb corruption in the State, he said that he would give priority to resolve all the pending cases in the ACB.
Minister's outcry over liquor syndicate bribes issue
2012/2/21 6:35:46 Even before Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana had a sigh of relief for jumping out of liquor syndicate bribes issue, once again the same has surfaced today with all TV Channels running scrolling about syndicate broker Ramana statement of giving Rs.10 lakhs to Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana for making settlement between two groups of syndicates at his residence. TDP grabbing this weapon hits hard at ruling Congress Government in the Assembly.
On the other side, Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana expressed grief for ACB targeting him again and again over liquor syndicate issue. He said "Once again I repeat that I am not connected to any liquor syndicate and I don't any Ramana who names me in this issue. I don't understand why the ACB is targeting me and don't understand who is behind it. All I know is sincerely doing my job. I don't have any groups or any followers in my party. I also don't have enmity with any of my colleagues in the cabinet. Yet, I don't understand why my name is again and again surfacing in this issue. I am ready give my explanation in Assembly too. If, I am proved guilty in this case, I am ready to resign in five minutes. I have already asked to initiate an investigation into this matter."
2012/2/24 7:31:42 Hyderabad, Feb 24 (INN): The left parties, Bharatiya Janata Party and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen on Friday staged a walk-out from the State Legislative Assembly for non-acceptance of their demands during the debate on liquor syndicate.
Talking to reporters later, BJP floor leader E Lakshminaraynana said that the State Government has failed to regulate the sale of liquor in the State. He said the BJP has demanded constitution of a House Committee to probe into the liquor syndicate, which was not accepted by the government.
CPI (M) floor leader J Ranga Reddy said that the State Government should have ordered judicial enquiry into the scam. But instead of exposing the corrupt, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was openly defending his cabinet colleague and Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana who has been accused of taking bribe from the liquor syndicate. He alleged that the TDP and Congress MLAs have misused the House to level personal allegations.
CPI MLA Chandravati condemned the debate on liquor syndicate and said that senior MLAs have set a bad precedent for junior MLAs like her by misusing the House to level personal allegations.
Similarly, MIM members staged a walkout from the House while demanding total prohibition in the State.
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.
2011/12/20 17:32:10 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)
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)
2012/4/17 8:18:07 Hyderabad, April 17 (INN): The Anti-Corruption Bureau Court on Tuesday granted bail to two accused in the liquor syndicate case.
The court granted bail to Sangareddy ACB circle inspector Som Narayan Singh and liquor trader Mohan Reddy. They have been asked to furnish the surety of Rs one lakh each.
Meanwhile, the court has rejected the bail petition of another accused B Balraj Goud following the objection raised by the ACB. While rejecting his bail plea, the court extended Balraj Goud's judicial remand till April 24.
Liquor syndicate Ramana's Nunna's bail petition on March 1st
2012/2/28 1:47:37 The Anti Corruption Bureau court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on bail petition of Nunna Venkata Ramana, the alleged kingpin of liquor syndicate, to March 1.
Earlier, Venkata Ramana had created a political storm by alleging the he paid bribes to Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao and several other politicians to seek their support for the liquor syndicate.
The ACB court adjourned the hearing as the ACB officials failed to file a counter petition in this regard. Therefore, the court asked the ACB to file th counter petition by March 1. Earlier on February 22, Venkata Ramana's counsel moved the petition seeking bail for his client. (INN)
2011/12/22 17:14:54 Anti Corruption Bureau Director General D Bhoopati Babu on Thursday stated that the probing agency would soon submit its report on raids on liquor syndicate to the State Government soon.
Talking to media persons, Bhoopati Babu said that the ACB would submit its final report to the government after it completes inquiry of officials allegedly involved in receiving kickbacks from the syndicate members. The agency also stated that it could not disclose the details of raids as a liquor syndicate case was pending in the court.
Stating that the ACB has conducted raids across the state on December 14, 15 and 17 at 33 places, he said the agency has seized 25 files and 400 key documents in this connection.
Apart from 25 files, the probing agency has also seized 105 accounts books from various places, the ACB chief stated and added that the seized materials include six hard discs, CDs and one CPU. He said that it has been found that two task force officials were also involved in the scam. (INN)
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).
2012/1/29 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)
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)
2011/12/27 16:59:04 The High Court today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to reveal the names of the persons involved in the liquor scam.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Sanjay Kumar admitted the petition filed a by a lawyer who sought directions to the State Government and Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to disclose the names of those ministers and politicians who were involved in the alleged nexus of liquor syndicate.
The bench adjourned to two weeks, the further hearing on petition filed by advocate Krishnaiah.
There was a nexus of Ministers, MLAs, excise officials and journalists and the syndicate helped in selling liquor sachets in violation of government fixed price, the petitioner pleaded.
He appealed to court to direct the government to order for a CBI probe instead of ACB handling the case, to get a fair and impartial investigation.
The bench said that this can be taken up once ACB submits its report and if there is any difficulty in acquiring the report a separate petition should be filed under Right to Information Act. (INN)
Ponguleti Sudhakar condemns Naidu charges against Botsa
2012/4/27 5:41:23 Hyderabad, April 27 (INN): AICC secretary and MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar on Friday came down heavily on Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu for targeting Pradesh congress committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on liquor syndicate issue.
Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office, Ponguleti Sudhakar took serious objection over the comments of Naidu that he would throw Botsa Satyanarayana in the Bay of Bengal.
He said that these type of statements are not suitable to Naidu, who was in a responsible Opposition Leader post.
He said that Naidu leveling baseless charges against PCC chief to get mileage on the liquor syndicate issue.
Stating that Naidu has no moral right to talk on liquor syndicate issue and corruption, he said that liquor overflowed during Naidu’s tenure and corruption was manifold.
He suggested Naidu to mind his business and party affairs before targeting on other parties.
Stating that his party already sinked in the Bay of Bengal, he advised him to focus on reviving his party instead of leveling baseless allegations against Congress leaders.
2012/2/3 11:56:03 Bharatiya Janata Party state president G Kishan reddy on Friday stated that BJP would contest alone in the 2014 elections.
Addressing media persons during his Telangana Poru Yatra, Kishan Reddy said that the party would not tie up with other parties for the 2014 elections. However, he said that the party was yet to take a decision on contesting the possible by-elections in the State. He said the decision would be taken only after the Election Commission issues notification.
The BJP leader also demanded CBI probe into the liquor syndicate in the State while alleging that the syndicate was having nexus with several politicians. He said only a CBI probe would expose the links between the politicians and liquor syndicate. He demanded that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy disclose the list of people who have been named in the liquor scam.
Kishan Reddy also announced that the BJP would intensify the agitation for Telangana with all like-minded parties under the leadership of Telangana Political Joint Action Committee. (INN)
Naidu seeks Governor's intervention on liquor scam
2012/2/27 7:12:14 Hyderabad, Feb 27 (INN): In protest against State Government’s refusal to table the report of Anti-Corruption Bureau on the liquor syndicate issue in the House, Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday called on Governor E S L Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan and urged him to direct the government to dismiss the ministers involved in the scam.
Talking to media persons after submitting a memorandum to the Governor at Raj Bhavan, Naidu stressed on the need for ordering comprehensive probe into the liquor syndicate operations which have caused huge losses to the State's exchequer. Demanding the dismissal of ministers from Cabinet for their alleged nexus with liquor syndicate, he accused the Kiran Kumar Reddy Government of shielding them to protect his own government.
Describing Kiran Kumar as `weakest Chief Minister’ so far he has seen in his political career, Naidu said that the Chief Minister has no courage to initiate action against his tainted ministers in fear of losing his chair. Seeking Governor's intervention to break the standoff, Naidu said that the ball was now in the court of the Governor to act on the scam.
Several TDP MLAs and MLCs accompanied Naidu to Raj Bhavan.
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 activists of Communist Party of India on Wednesday staged a dharna before the Excise Department office demanding stern action against those involved in the liquor syndicate.
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.
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.
The High Court today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to reveal the names of the persons involved in the liquor scam.
Bharatiya Janata Party state president G Kishan reddy on Friday stated that BJP would contest alone in the 2014 elections.
