The release of sensational videos featuring Cherukuru Venkatesh Naidu, one of the accused in the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam that allegedly took place during the YSR Congress Party regime, has triggered a political storm in the state.
While some YSRCP leaders claim the videos were fabricated to damage the party’s image and that of former MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, others allege that Venkatesh Naidu was closer to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh.
Amid the controversy, Venkatesh Naidu’s wife, Mahitha, has filed a petition in the state high court seeking an independent probe into the alleged leaks of her husband’s phone data to the media by Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials.
She alleged that SIT officer Srihari Babu had seized her husband’s phone and was responsible for leaking its contents to tarnish his reputation.
The petition states that the media is carrying out a “trial by publicity,” thereby interfering with the judicial process.
Mahitha requested the court to order newspapers, TV channels, websites, and social media platforms to refrain from publishing or broadcasting any information sourced from the seized phone, and to remove any such content already in circulation.
On August 2, the state government released videos showing large piles of cash being packed and transported by Venkatesh Naidu, who is accused No. 34 in the liquor scam and is currently in judicial custody.
The ruling Telugu Desam Party claims the videos were retrieved by the SIT from Naidu’s phone. They allege that he is a close aide of senior YSRCP leader and former MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy (A-38 in the case), who was arrested along with him on June 18.
TDP spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhiram said, “During the 2024 general elections, Venkatesh Naidu, who lives in Nandyal, travelled to Ongole to file a nomination as a dummy candidate in support of Chevireddy.”
He further pointed out that the charge sheet filed by the SIT in the ACB court on July 20 details how Venkatesh Naidu stored cash in cardboard boxes at his Hyderabad residence and regularly handed it over to other accused for distribution among Chevireddy’s followers in Ongole.
Over a six-month period, around ₹200–₹250 crore was allegedly routed through Naidu to be given to voters across various constituencies.
Pattabhiram also alleged that YSRCP leaders personally escorted Venkatesh Naidu to Colombo after the SIT began probing the liquor scam, in an attempt to shield both him and Chevireddy.
