handrababu responsible for illicit liquor deaths 

Tadepalli, July 12: Former minister Merugu Nagarjuna strongly criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, saying that his greed is driving the illicit liquor syndicate, resulting in the deaths of many innocent people. 

Speaking at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, he claimed that liquor distilleries are entirely under the control of TDP leaders, who are flooding the state with adulterated liquor. He expressed anger, stating that the fact that one in every three bottles sold in Andhra Pradesh is illicit highlights the extent of the TDP’s illicit liquor racket. He further elaborated:
The illicit liquor trade is flourishing across the state, with TDP’s liquor syndicate producing adulterated liquor that causes severe health issues and sudden deaths among consumers. Nagarjuna stated that dangerous spirits mixed with caramel and colored water are sold as branded liquor, endangering lives. He claimed that all 3,396 private liquor shops in the state, along with approximately 75,000 belt shops, are controlled by the TDP syndicate. These outlets sell counterfeit liquor under names like AC Black, Old Admiral, and SPY 999. He pointed out that recent deaths due to severe illness caused by consuming illicit liquor are being covered up by the Chandrababu government. Raids in districts such as Anakapalli, West Godavari, SPSR Nellore, Anantapur, and YSR Kadapa have exposed the involvement of TDP key leaders and their families in this racket. The Excise Department is refraining from taking action against these leaders due to protection from the Chief Minister.

The central government regulates spirit purchases, and industries are not allowed to procure beyond a certain limit. However, during the COVID-19 period, restrictions were relaxed for sanitizer production, a loophole now exploited by the TDP syndicate. Despite the absence of COVID-related needs, large quantities of spirit are being procured from distilleries in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, far exceeding requirements. These spirits are then illegally diverted to illicit liquor units. Nagarjuna claimed that around a dozen such units operate across the state, with two to three districts served by each unit, producing and distributing adulterated liquor. This counterfeit liquor is also supplied to neighboring states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Yanam. The TDP syndicate, leveraging its official network, sells this illicit liquor as branded products, with one in every three bottles being counterfeit, including brands like Old Admiral, AC Black, and SPY 999. Nagarjuna alleged that the TDP syndicate has looted thousands of crores by putting consumers’ lives at risk.

Since the TDP coalition government came to power, liquor sales in 2024–25 generated Rs. 28,500 crore in revenue, with a target of Rs. 35,000 crore for 2025–26. It is estimated that one-third of all quarter bottles sold are illicit. Approximately 48 crore quarter bottles of illicit liquor have been sold, priced at Rs. 110 per bottle. This translates to Rs. 5,280 crore worth of illicit liquor sold in a single year, profiting the TDP syndicate at the expense of public health.