The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Andhra Pradesh police probing the multi-thousand liquor scandal that allegedly took place during the previous YSR Congress party government, appears to be focussing on the possible network of the liquor syndicate in the neighbouring Telangana state as well.
On Friday, the SIT authorities grilled Telugu television channel promoter A Shravan Kumar, one of the accused in the Telangana telephone tapping case, for his connections with the associates of liquor scam accused no. 1 Raj Kesireddy in Dubai.
On Saturday, the SIT officials conducted raids across several areas of Hyderabad, including Bharathi Cements, a company associated with YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The raids were initiated because Balaji Govindappa, who has already been arrested in the case, served as a director in Bharathi Cements.
The SIT also carried out searches at Resource One, a company linked to Raj Kesireddy, and at T Grill Restaurant, which is reportedly owned by Chanakya, another arrested accused.
Along with on-ground inspections, the SIT also examined technical data to track who met whom, where and how often.
Searches are still ongoing at the Bharathi Cements office in Banjara Hills, where officials are scrutinizing key documents from the administration department.
A six-member SIT team is leading the operations. There are suspicions that Bharathi Cements served as a central hub for the Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam, prompting these extensive inspections.
Investigations have revealed that bribes were allegedly routed from Bharathi Cements to six key locations in Hyderabad. Meetings were reportedly held at the company’s premises involving liquor supply firms and distillery owners.
The SIT authorities have also reportedly found that the kickbacks were handed over at Bharathi Cements after these meetings. Further probe is going on.
