The Supreme Court on Friday granted regular bail to Muppidi Avinash Reddy, a close relative of prime accused Raj Kesireddy, in the alleged Andhra Pradesh liquor scam case, according to reports from Delhi.
It was only last week that the SC rejected regular bail to Avinash Reddy, the accused no. 7 (A-7) in the alleged liquor scam and asked him to surrender before the special investigation team (SIT) authorities for questioning.
Earlier, Avinash Reddy filed anticipatory bail petitions from the trial court to the Supreme Court, but his petitions were rejected, given the gravity of the case.
Following the Supreme Court order last week, he surrendered before the investigating officer for three days.
Soon after the questioning is completed on Thursday, he moved a regular bail petition in the Supreme Court again, stating that the charge sheet had already been filed. The apex court considered his plea and granted him regular bail.
During the questioning by the SIT authorities, Avinash Reddy is learnt to have made serious revelations.
He reportedly told them that the funds routed through Mumbai-based hawala operator Anil Chokhra belonged to "top leaders and officials" of the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government, though he maintained that he was unaware of the ultimate beneficiary.
He is said to have described Chokhra's network as highly sophisticated, with strong links to influential circles, enabling large-scale hawala and money laundering operations.
During the interrogation, Avinash placed the onus of alleged irregularities on Raj Kesireddy, claiming that he played a central role in the liquor policy-related dealings.
He further stated that it was Kesireddy who facilitated his exit from the country when the probe intensified after the change in government.
Detailing the origins of their business, Reddy reportedly told investigators that he and his brother initially operated liquor outlets in Hyderabad.
After the YSRCP came to power in 2019, they learned that Kesireddy was handling key aspects of the state's liquor policy.
With his support, they established Adan Distilleries, with Avinash investing Rs 1 lakh, while industrialist Penaka Sarath Chandra Reddy later infused nearly Rs 60 crore into the venture.
