Coalition Govt illegally framing YSRCP in liquor scam

Tadepalli, March 20, 2025: YSRCP Legal Cell President Manohar Reddy has stated that the coalition government of fabricating a liquor scam to target YSRCP leaders out of political vendetta. The government is misusing its authority to frame false cases, escalating from harassing critics and activists to this new conspiracy linking YSRCP to a Rs. 4,000 crore scam, while ignoring irregularities in the TDP’s 2014-19 liquor policy, where 70% of brands went to four companies, reducing state revenue. A 2023 YSRCP case on this was sidelined by the coalition, which is now filing counter-cases to deflect blame.

Manohar detailed that on September 9, 2024, Y. Venkateswara Srinivas sent a letter alleging corruption in YSRCP’s liquor policy. Without evidence, Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena issued a memo ordering an internal inquiry by the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APS BCL), leading to a report within nine days. On September 20, 2024, Meena filed a CID complaint, and on September 23, FIR No. 21/2024 was registered against "unknown persons" for over Rs. 4,000 crore in alleged corruption, lacking substantiation. The CID’s SIT, staffed with coalition loyalists, bypassed Supreme Court guidelines, coerced APS BCL employees and distilleries into signing statements under threats, and leaked details to "yellow media" as part of a strategy to first defame YSRCP leaders like MP Midhun Reddy and later implicate them as accused. Manohar Reddy emphasized that the YSRCP government had implemented a transparent liquor policy, continuing purchases from distilleries approved under the TDP regime without granting new licenses, contrary to the coalition’s narrative.