Rs 3,500 crore AP liquor 'scam': 20 places in 4 states, Delhi-NCR searched

NEW DELHI: In the Rs 3,500 crore liquor 'scam' case in Andhra Pradesh with allegations of kickbacks against former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and others, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted searches at 20 locations across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Delhi-NCR.

Sources said the searches were carried out on the premises of accused companies and individuals who "facilitated payment of kickbacks through bogus/inflated invoices". According to the chargesheet filed by the Andhra Pradesh Police 's special investigation team (SIT), Jagan is among the alleged beneficiaries of the kickbacks generated from the liquor 'scam'.

The SIT has filed multiple chargesheets and arrested several accused, including YSRCP Lok Sabha MP PV Midhun Reddy. The previous YSRCP govt is accused of framing its excise policy in such a manner that it led to control the distribution of liquor through state outlets and allegedly generating kickbacks through distilleries.

Some of the entities searched on Thursday included Arete Institute of Medical Sciences Pvt Ltd, Shree Jewellers Eximp, NR Udhyog LLP, India Fruits Pvt Ltd (Chennai), Venkateshwara Packaging, Suvarna Durga Bottles Pvt Ltd, Rao Saheb Boorugu Mahadev Jewellers, Ushodaya Enterprises and Mohan Lal Jewellers (Chennai). The ED's money laundering probe is based on an FIR registered by SIT. The SIT has filed three chargesheets so far in the case alleging that an average of Rs 50-60 crore in kickbacks were generated in the 'scam' every month, where Jagan and people associated with him were beneficiaries.