Disclose the names of liquor kickback recipients: LS
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)
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Disclose the names of liquor kickback recipients: LS
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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).
2012/3/17 4:59:46 Communist Party of India state secretary K Narayana on Saturday stated that his party would boycott those 'tainted' Ministers who have been served notices by the Supreme Court for issuing controversial GOs, which helped YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy in allegedly accumulating wealth illegally.
Talking to media persons after participating in office bearers' meeting in Prakasam district, Narayana came down heavily on Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for trying to shield the corrupt ministers despite the Supreme Court clearly stating that action should be initiated against them. “The government is shamelessly shielding the ministers and bringing disrepute to the democratic system and the House,” he said.
Demanding that the Ministers submit resignation from their posts and prove their innocence before the probing agency, he warned that the CPI would boycott their programmes in the districts, if they do not resign immediately.
Narayana also demanded that the State Government immediately cancel the auctioning of liquor license and draft a new Excise Policy. If the government fails to halt auction of liquor licenses, he said that the party would picket excise offices in the districts during auctioning.
He also asked the Chief Minister to disclose the names of those having links with the liquor syndicate, if he was really committed to end corruption. (INN)
2011/12/21 16:41:49 The Lok Satta Party and its affiliates will take out rallies and conduct sit-ins in all municipal towns on December 24 demanding publication of the names of beneficiaries of liquor syndicate s’ kickbacks and swift and deterrent action against the guilty. The party will associate civil society organizations and liquor victims with its agitation program.
Announcing this, Lok Satta Party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao demanded that the Government take over the liquor trade and ban illegal outlets known as belt shops.
He recalled that sections of media had lighted the links between ruling party and Opposition leaders with liquor syndicates during the 2010 auctions. He accused the Congress and the TDP of shedding crocodile tears over the liquor menace even as they contributed to spreading the liquor cult and made money in the process. He wanted the traditional party leaders to join the Lok Satta in its fight against belt shops and illicit liquor.
Lok Satta Party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao, Bandaru Ramamohana Rao and P. Rambabu conveyed their condolences over the death Pratik Reddy, son of former Minister Komati Venkata Reddy, and two others in an Outer Ring Road accident. They wanted the Government to take measures to prevent such accidents. (INN)
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)
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)
Disclose assets, PM to Dasari, Purandareswari, and Jaipal
2007/11/7 7:28:59 Prime minister Manmohan Singh has asked the ministers from Andhra Pradesh in the union cabinet to disclose their assets. The PM wrote letters to Dasari Narayana Rao, Purandareswari, Jaipal Reddy and others to this effect.
The PM has been urging all union ministers to disclose their assets. But even after three years, many in the cabinet have not complied with the directive.
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)
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.
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."
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)
Botsa irks with Naidu insisting discussion on liquor issue
2012/2/15 2:23:52 Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Wednesday came down heavily on Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu for stalling the proceedings in the House.
Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party office, Botsa Satyanarayana accused Naidu of adopting double standards in the House and pressing for discussion on liquor syndicate issue instead of raising farmers, junior doctors, students and weavers issues. He asked Naidu to explain why he was pressing for discussion on liquor scam instead of problems being faced by the people.
Stating that government was ready to give explanation on any issue, the PCC chief stated Naidu was raising the issue of liquor scam in order to get mileage on the issue. He said the people of State were losing hopes on Naidu as he failed to play constructive role as a responsible Opposition Leader. “At least now Naidu should realize his responsibilities and help to run the House smoothly,” he said.
Botsa said that the government was ready to give its reply on ACB report if the House runs smoothly. “How can the government give its reply if the opposition continuously disrupts the House and forces Speaker Nadendla Manohar to adjourn it?” he asked.
Stating that no Congress leader was found involved in the liquor scam, he asked Naidu to explain what action he has taken on the TDP members whose names figures in the liquor syndicate. (INN)
2012/2/22 22:38:33 Once again the ACB sleuths have begun yet another round of raids on Excise department officials' houses to unearth the illegal links between them and liquor syndicates. Right now, the ACB sleuths are raiding on the houses of the camp clerk Seshagiri Rao, Constables Subba Rao, Shekar and retired CI Mallikarjuna Rao of Excise department in Guntur city, who are alleged to be heavily invested in liquor syndicates. If, the ACB is able to squeeze any important names of the ruling party MLAs or its leaders during these raids, it is going to create more problems to beleaguered Kiran Kumar Reddy Government, which is already facing problems with its Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana topping the list of bribe-receivers.
2012/1/5 14:45:13 TDP politburo member K Yerran Naidu on Thursday ridiculed PCC Botsa Satyanarayana for his remarks that government was not at fault in the hooch tragedy which claimed18 tribals at Mylavaram in Krishna district.
Talking to media persons at NTR Bhavan, the TDP leader said that the PCC president, who was a major liquor dealer in Vizianagaram district, should be ashamed of making such remarks. Demanding that the Government should introduce more controls in liquor sales and production, he urged the Kiran Kumar Government to put an end to illicit arrack brewing in the State.
He condemned Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad and Praja Rajyam leader K Chiranjeevi for not taking serious note on the hooch deaths.Yerran Naidu demanded that the Government should disclose the details of the ACB report and also ordered a full scale investigation to unravel the nexus between Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and other officials in the liquor syndicate.
TDP Mahila wing president Shobha Hymavati alleged that over 200 belt shops in Karimnagar district were operated under the aegis of the village committees and earning revenue of over Rs 120 crore in the district alone. (INN)
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.
The High Court today admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed to reveal the names of the persons involved in the liquor scam.
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.
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.
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.
The Lok Satta Party and its affiliates will take out rallies and conduct sit-ins in all municipal towns on December 24 demanding publication of the names of beneficiaries of liquor syndicate s’ kickbacks and swift and deterrent action against the guilty. The party will associate civil society organizations and liquor victims with its agitation program.
Bharatiya Janata Party state president G Kishan reddy on Friday stated that BJP would contest alone in the 2014 elections.
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. 
Malayalam superstar Mammootty has produced a documentary asking people to shun liquor, and said he too would do so -- on the screen.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Wednesday came down heavily on Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu for stalling the proceedings in the House.
TDP politburo member K Yerran Naidu on Thursday ridiculed PCC Botsa Satyanarayana for his remarks that government was not at fault in the hooch tragedy which claimed18 tribals at Mylavaram in Krishna district.
