The arrest of former IAS officer K Dhanunjay Reddy and retired official P Krishna Mohan Reddy, both key officials in the office of former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, in connection with the alleged liquor scam has evoked panicky reaction from the YSR Congress party.
Ever since the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh police declared their arrest on Friday night, the YSRCP has been crying foul with its leaders, one after the other, issuing statements condemning the alleged witch-hunt by the Chandrababu Naidu government.
Former minister and YSRCP spokesman Ambati Rambabu alleged that the TDP-led coalition government has been resorting to a disturbing pattern of unlawful arrests and politically motivated persecution, targeting opposition leaders and public servants.
“From political leaders to IAS, IPS officers, no one is spared from fabricated cases and detentions. The arrests of senior IAS officer Dhanunjaya Reddy and OSD Krishna Mohan Reddy, who served in YS Jagan Mohan Reddy governance, exemplify this vendetta,” he said.
Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh exploiting their authority, likening their actions to “riding a tiger” that will eventually turn against them.
“The arrests of Dhanunjaya Reddy and Krishna Mohan Reddy are steeped in political conspiracy. This is a deliberate attempt to suppress dissent and distract from the government’s failures,” he added.
Former MP Margani Bharat described Dhanunjay Reddy and Krishna Mohan Reddy as honest officials.
“The government is intimidating IAS and IPS officers using a so-called "Red Book," targeting those who uphold integrity while favoring loyalists to suppress dissent,” he alleged.
He said the honest officials are being sidelined, while handpicked loyalists in special investigation teams are being used to carry out unlawful detentions.
He also raised concerns about the transfer of jail officials, suggesting a sinister motive to employ "third-degree" tactics against detainees.
"Power is not permanent. Naidu and Lokesh will face the consequences of every illegal arrest," he warned.
Another spokesperson Rachamallu Shiva Prasad Reddy alleged that it was because of Jagan’s lenient attitude, Naidu had managed to wriggle out of the cases.
He said it was Naidu’s family which had amassed over Rs 10,000 crore through illicit liquor commissions over five years between 2014 and 2019.
He alleged that even now, Naidu personally pockets Rs 1,000 crore annually from distilleries, while Lokesh collects Rs 1,200 crore yearly from liquor shops, totalling Rs 2,200 crore per year.
“This father-son duo is running the state’s largest scam, looting Rs 10,000 crore while betraying the people,” Reddy charged, challenging TDP leaders to deny these collections under oath.
Former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakara Reddy and another spokesperson Varudu Kalyani and many others have accused Naidu of targeting honest and upright officers like Dhananjay Reddy, Krishna Mohan Reddy and PSR Anjaneyulu by filing false cases with fabricated charges.
“The arrests of sincere and upright officers will have an impact on the officers who will be rethinking about their future after the elections,” Bhumana said.
