Kingfisher beer, a popular brand in the country, has been brought in containers and stored in godowns in anticipation of the soon-to-start sale of branded liquor across the state after a five-year gap.
There is a likelihood of a review of the liquor policy in the state with the change in leadership. When Jagan came to power, private liquor shops were replaced by government-run shops, halting the sale of branded liquor and instead selling locally unrecognised liquor.
The TDP has accused the Chief Minister and Cabinet Ministers of involvement in a significant scam, labeling them as a liquor mafia. Following the NDA’s victory in elections in AP, the Crime Investigation Bureau (CID) conducted searches at the office of former MD of AP Beverages Corporation (APSBCL), Vasudeva Reddy, who is suspected of playing a major role in the liquor scam.
Based on a complaint by a resident of Kanchikacherla, the CID registered a case against Vasudeva Reddy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for transporting files and documents from the APSBCL headquarters. Subsequent searches were conducted at Vasudeva Reddy’s residence in Hyderabad to further investigate the allegations.
It is alleged that during the previous regime, government officials, YCP leaders, and their associates had monopolized the liquor industry, leading to large-scale looting. The CID also discovered attempts by Vasudeva Reddy to destroy crucial evidence related to the scam as there was a transition of power in the state.
