Tadepalli, Dec 12: YSR Congress Party Legal Cell President Manohar Reddy strongly condemned the massive spurious liquor scam that unfolded under the coalition government, calling it the largest illicit liquor scandal in the country. Addressing the media at the YSRCP Central Office, he said the entire operation—from production at Mulakalacheruvu to state-wide distribution through Ibrahimpatnam—was executed under the supervision, protection, and involvement of TDP leaders. Shockingly, the illegal units operated barely 300 meters from the Excise Police Station, with liquor transported in milk vans, yet the police “failed” to detect it until local citizens exposed the racket. “In this case, the people are the real whistle blowers,” he stated, slamming the police for registering a case only after public pressure.
Manohar Reddy said the scam flourished only after the coalition government handed over liquor shops to private individuals, revived permit rooms, and allowed thousands of belt shops to mushroom across villages. When official liquor vendors began incurring losses, TDP leaders colluded with operators and set up an entire cottage industry of fake liquor. He named TDP Tamballapalli candidate Jayachandra Reddy, his brother-in-law Giridhar Reddy, and associate Katta Surender as the key conspirators. After the arrest of Addhepalli Janardhan Rao, who was brought from South Africa, it became clear that one in every three liquor bottles sold in private shops was fake. Yet, instead of arresting the actual masterminds, the government diverted attention by forcing a custodial video implicating YSRCP leader Jogi Ramesh, recorded illegally and released to mislead the public.
He questioned why no proper investigation was conducted into the factories involved, the supply chains, the belt shops receiving spurious liquor, or the financial transactions of the accused. No bank accounts were frozen, no properties attached, and no real masterminds were arrested. Meanwhile, the government is attempting to neutralize the case by bringing back Jayachandra Reddy and weakening the probe. Manohar Reddy accused Chandrababu Naidu of repeatedly withdrawing cases against himself using political pressure, instead of facing courts and proving innocence, while simultaneously filing false cases against YSRCP leaders. “No other leader has degraded institutions like Chandrababu. If he truly trusts the system, why not face an impartial inquiry?” he asked.
Demanding accountability, he challenged the Chief Minister to order an independent audit of the liquor scam, investigate all TDP leaders involved, including Jayachandra Reddy, and reveal which belt shops and wine shops received fake liquor. He asserted that this inter-state racket spread to Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, proving the magnitude of the conspiracy. Manohar Reddy called the government’s inaction deliberate, meant to shield TDP leaders who orchestrated the scam. “If Chandrababu has even an ounce of integrity, let him stop withdrawing cases, allow free and fair investigation, and punish those behind this massive crime against public health,” he said
*Clear Thalliki Vandanam dues before budget session ends: Botsa*
