The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh police on Friday questioned former deputy chief minister K Narayana Swamy in connection with the liquor scam that allegedly took place during the previous YSR Congress party regime.
Narayana Swamy was holding the portfolio of prohibition and excise in the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy cabinet.
The SIT officials went to his residence at Puttur town in Chittoor district and questioned him for nearly six hours.
According to sources, the SIT authorities grilled Narayana Swamy with regard to the changes made in the liquor policy during the YSRCP government and his role in the exercise.
They also asked him why online system for indenting by liquor traders was removed and replaced by manual process.
However, Narayana Swamy said he had absolutely no knowledge of the decisions taken with regard to the liquor policy and told the SIT officails that all the decisions were taken only at the highest level.
He also feigned ignorance about replacement of digital payment system with cash payment system at the liquor shops and said he had nothing to do with it.
He told the SIT authorities that he was not involved in either policy formation or sales operations.
The SIT confronted Narayana Swamy with evidence collected from other key individuals, including Raj Kasireddy, the prime accused in the case, but he did not give any reply.
Narayana Swamy told media persons later that the SIT officials had asked him four questions related to liquor policy and that he had answered all of them to the best of his knowledge.
“I told them I would cooperate with the investigation whenever they call me. They have also issued a notice asking me to appear for questioning again,” he said.
