Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam: ED Summons Former Minister Ambati Rambabu
Former AP Minister Ambati Rambabu summoned by ED on Nov 4 regarding a massive liquor transport scam involving suspected losses of Rs 195 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into the alleged Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, issuing a summons to YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu. Rambabu is required to appear before the ED's Hyderabad zonal office on November 4 to record his statement regarding the suspected irregularities.
A Web of Corruption and Manipulation
The investigation centers on a sophisticated scheme involving the awarding and execution of liquor transportation contracts during the tenure of the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh. According to the ED, the tender conditions of the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) were deliberately altered to favor specific entities.
The agency alleges that Sigma Supply Chain Solutions Pvt Ltd (SSCSPL) and later Prasaad Transports were used as mere front companies. While these entities appeared on paper, the actual financial and operational control was held by a cartel of influential individuals.
The Masterminds Behind the Scam
The ED has identified Kessireddy Raja Shekhar Reddy, a former IT advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government, as the principal conspirator and the "controlling mind" of this organized financial crime. It is alleged that Reddy leveraged his political influence and position to enter into a criminal conspiracy with the then Managing Director of APSBCL, Dontireddy Vasudeva Reddy.
The investigation suggests that this group, including Tukekula Eswar Kiran Kumar Reddy and Anjani Kumar, abused their power to secure transportation tenders at rates significantly higher than the prevailing market prices, thereby generating massive unlawful gains.
Losses to the Exchequer and High-Profile Arrests
The case was initiated following an FIR registered by the Andhra Pradesh CID, based on a complaint from the Additional Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh (Vigilance). The complaint highlighted a staggering loss to the government exchequer amounting to approximately Rs 195.33 crore.
The ED has already taken several decisive actions in this case:
- Arrests: Kessireddy Raja Shekhar Reddy and Dontireddy Vasudeva Reddy were arrested on June 11. Later, on June 18, Karumuri Sunil Kumar, the son of former minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao, was also taken into custody.
- Raids: On June 11, the agency conducted searches at five different premises in Hyderabad.
- Seizures: The raids led to the recovery of a luxury car, expensive watches valued at Rs 94.5 lakh, and significant amounts of unaccounted cash.
Incriminating Evidence Uncovered
Beyond the luxury goods, the ED has seized a trove of documents that point toward a deep-rooted conspiracy. These include suspicious joint venture agreements, records of unaccounted cash transactions, and various property documents that the agency believes will further expose the mechanics of the liquor transport fraud.
The summons to Ambati Rambabu marks the latest development in a case that continues to unravel the links between political influence and financial irregularities in the state's liquor distribution network.