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)
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)
2011/12/20 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)
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.
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)
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)
2011/12/27 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)
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)
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)
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.
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)
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.
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)
2012/2/10 9:29:19 Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has suspected that the State Government might tamper with the report of Anti-Corruption Bureau on the liquor syndicate.
Addressing the party's Yuva Taranga programme here on Friday, Naidu demanded that the complete report on the liquor syndicate be made public. Else, he feared that the government might tamper with the report to shield a few politicians. He questioned as to why the Anti-Corruption Bureau was not conducting raids in Chittoor and Vizianagaram districts.
While Chittoor is the home district of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Vizianagaram is represented by PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana and the ACB must be under pressure to spare these two districts, he alleged.
The TDP president also criticised a recent statement allegedly made by Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao saying that he would cut Naidu's tongue if he levels baseless allegations against him. He advised KCR to maintain dignity while making statements and said use of un-parliamentary language against political opponents was a bad precedent.
However, Naidu warned that use of un-parliamentary words might draw severe reaction from the TDP workers. He alleged that KCR was now a 'changed man' and his statements 'reflect his frustration'. (INN)
Place ACB report on liquor scam in the House, demands TDP
2012/2/27 3:05:15 Hyderabad, Feb 27 (INN): Telugu Desam MLA P Raghunath Reddy on Monday criticized the government for not tabling the ACB report on liquor syndicate before the House for discussion.
Talking to media persons at Assembly media point, he came down heavily on the government for avoiding discussion on liquor scam. "Instead of taking up discussion and disclosing the names of those who involved in the scam, the government was resorting to frequent adjournment of House," he alleged.
Raghunath Reddy said if the government was really committed to end corruption, the state government should order judicial probe with a sitting High Court judge into the liquor syndicate and take serious disciplinary action against those found guilty.
TDP leader and Vijayawada MLA Devineni Umamaheswar Rao said that Kiran Government was biased and prejudiced in dealing with the liquor syndicate scam. He said that the Government has been arresting police and excise officials based on the statement of a criminal. But they were questioning the credibility of an accused Nunna Ramana when it came to the arrest of politicians including Excise minister Mopidevi Vankata Ramana Rao.
He said that the fear of political crisis and the fall of Kiran Kumar Reddy Government were forcing the Congress high Command to go slow in the liquor scam.
TDP whip Dhulipala Narendra criticized Deputy Speaker Bhatti Vikramarka for frequently adjourning the House without giving a chance to members for speaking on important public issues.
2012/2/12 7:47:48 Horticulture Minister Ram Reddy Venkat Reddy on Sunday denied having any links with the liquor syndicate.
Talking to reporters, Ram Reddy criticised Family Welfare Minister DL Ravindra Reddy's recent comments that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was trying to shield a minister from his caste while targeting ministers from Backward Classes. He said although Ravindra Reddy did not name him, but the statement was directly aimed at him. He said he had no idea as to why Ravindra Reddy was trying to drag his name in the controversy.
Ram Reddy said that the neither he nor any of his family members had any links with the liquor syndicate. He also defended other leaders from the Khammam district stating that politicians, across all party lines, were honest. He said the Anti-Corruption Bureau has prepared its report based on the statements of accused having criminal background. Therefore, the ACB report was not reliable, he said.
The Horticulture Minister also demanded stern action the ACB officials for naming leading politicians without actually verifying the allegations. (INN)
TDP, Congress stage dharnas in Vizianagaram on liquor syndicate
2012/4/23 9:56:52 Vizianagaram, April 23 (INN): Amidst high political drama, the Congress and Telugu Desam Party on Monday held simultaneous dharnas near the district collectorate accusing each other of being involved in the multi-crore liquor scam.
Despite denial of permission by the police, hundreds of TDP workers led by party president N Chandrababu Naidu took out a rally from former minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju's residence to the NTR Statue. However, they were prevented by the police from proceeding further. Consequently, Naidu and TDP workers staged dharna for about two hours seeking police permission to hold protest.
After high political drama, the police granted permission to the TDP to hold protest near the Collectorate. After garlanding the NTR's statue, Naidu went in a rally to the district collectorate. Addressing the gathering, Naidu alleged that the ruling Congress party was trying to suppress the voice of opposition using police forces. He also alleged of misbehavior by some police officials.
Naidu demanded that the State Government gives free hand to the Anti-Corruption Bureau in investigating the liquor syndicate scam and later the ACB report should be made public. He also accused Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana of having nexus with the liquor syndicate. Demanding that Botsa disclose his assets, he alleged that the PCC chief was involved in several corrupt practices.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Congress workers led by DCC president K Veerabhadra Swamy, Stamps and Registration Minister Thota Narasimhulu, MLAs Botsa Appula Narasaiah, Appula Naidu and Rajanna Dora took out a rally from NCS Theatre to the district Collectorate.
Talking to reporters, Veerabhadra Swamy alleged that several TDP leaders were involved in the liquor scam. He said Naidu has no moral right to criticise the ruling party before taking action against his own party men. He said it was ridiculous that Naidu who lifted total prohibition imposed by late NT Rama Rao was now talking against the liquor syndicate.
Govt ready to order probe into liquor scam: Minister
2011/12/19 1:35:30 Excise & Prohibition Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao on Sunday stated that the state government was ready to order probe into liquor scam in the wake of alleged nexus between Ministers and liquor syndicate.
Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office, Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao said that the government was ready to initiate action on those ministers, if found involved in receiving the bribes from liquor syndicate.
“Even I am ready to face any kind of probe against me in this connection,” he said. Stating that the government yet to receive a report from the Anti Corruption Bureau over the raids and seizing of documents, he said once the probing agency submits its report, the government would initiate action against those who are responsible for the scam.
He said the ACB was doing its duty and not targeting anyone in this regard. He said that excise officials have booked 780 cases against those liquor shops which are selling liquor at more than MRP.
Stating that Rs 50,000 fine imposed on shops for booking them for first time, he said the officials would impose Rs 1 lakh for registering case for second time. If the shop was booked for third time, he said the department would cancel the licence of shop.
Admitting the loopholes in auction of liquor shops, he said the government would take all steps to maintain transparency in auction and announce a new liquor policy by Budget session.
He said the TDP has no moral right to seek a probe on liquor scam as more number of belt shops came during their tenure.(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)
2011/12/24 9:11:21 The Communist Party of India on Friday demanded that the State Government immediately release a `White Paper’ on the Anti Corruption Bureau raids on the liquor syndicate as thousands of crores of rupees were involved in the scam.
Talking to reporters at Maqdoom Bhavan, CPI State Secretary K Narayana also demanded that the government order Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the liquor syndicate following reports of alleged involvement of politicians, excise officials and journalists. He said that the delay in releasing of ACB report giving room for suspicion that government was openly shielding the guilty involved in the scam.
Narayana asked as to why Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was afraid of disclosing the contents of the ACB report. He demanded the government take severe action against the guilty, irrespective of their position as per relevant laws. He advised the government to review the Excise Policy and make it fool-proof to put an end to irregularities during liquor auction.
The CPI leader also slammed the government on sand mining policy and bauxite mining in agency areas of Visakhapatnam district. He warned the government of serious consequences if it fails to cancel the permits for bauxite mining in agency areas violating the environment and forest acts. (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.
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.
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 High Court today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to reveal the names of the persons involved in the liquor scam.
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.
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.
Bharatiya Janata Party state president G Kishan reddy on Friday stated that BJP would contest alone in the 2014 elections.
Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu has suspected that the State Government might tamper with the report of Anti-Corruption Bureau on the liquor syndicate.
Horticulture Minister Ram Reddy Venkat Reddy on Sunday denied having any links with the liquor syndicate.
Excise & Prohibition Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao on Sunday stated that the state government was ready to order probe into liquor scam in the wake of alleged nexus between Ministers and liquor syndicate.
The Communist Party of India on Friday demanded that the State Government immediately release a `White Paper’ on the Anti Corruption Bureau raids on the liquor syndicate as thousands of crores of rupees were involved in the scam.
