Tadepalli, October 17: Former Minister Perni Venkatramaiah (Nani) exposed a massive fake and illegal liquor mafia flourishing across Andhra Pradesh under the protection of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and TDP leaders. He said the liquor mafia is being run openly through bars, belt shops and permit rooms, looting crores every day while endangering the lives of people with adulterated liquor. Addressing the media at the YSRCP Central Office in Tadepalli, he stated that the so-called QR code system reintroduced by the TDP government is a diversion tactic to cover up fake liquor operations controlled by TDP financiers.
Perni Nani said QR codes on liquor bottles were first introduced during YSRCP rule, where every bottle from distilleries had traceable data. But the TDP government removed QR codes after coming to power to allow fake liquor distribution and restored them only after the scam exploded. He alleged that fake liquor produced in Mulakalacheruvu and Ibrahimpatnam is being supplied across the State through permit rooms and over 1.5 lakh illegal belt shops. He revealed that 3736 liquor shops in the State now have permit rooms only to push illegal stock. He questioned, “If QR code is the solution, who will scan QR codes in belt shops and permit rooms? Who will certify whether the loose liquor sold there is original or fake?”
He accused TDP leaders Jayachandra Reddy, Surendra Naidu and Janardhan Rao of running the fake liquor mafia but said none of them were arrested despite strong evidence. “YSRCP workers are harassed with Red Corner Notices even for social media posts, but fake liquor mafia leaders are protected,” he said. He added that TDP tried to falsely link YSRCP leaders like Jogi Ramesh to cover up their own involvement in the scam. He demanded to know why no Red Corner Notices were issued to the main accused Jayachandra Reddy and others despite seizure of fake liquor worth hundreds of crores.
Perni Nani also exposed the Bar Policy scam brought by the coalition government, calling it a loot mechanism. He said bars are not buying stock from the government but are selling non-duty paid illegal liquor. “If bars purchase the government-fixed stock, they cannot survive. That is why they are selling fake liquor to earn profits. This entire system is protected by the Excise Department and TDP leaders,” he said, further alleging that each bar pays monthly bribes to the ruling party. He challenged Chandrababu Naidu to allow a fact-finding inspection committee comprising all political parties and journalists to verify bar stocks across the State.
He also challenged the government to release details of ₹99 liquor sales and digital payment records, calling the claim of 25% digital transactions a “blatant lie.” He said not even 10% of liquor sales are digital, and there is no accountability on the remaining unaccounted cash flow which is routed to the ruling party leadership.
Questioning Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s silence, he said, “Pawan used to shout against YS Jagan’s liquor policy for publicity. Today fake liquor is killing people and destroying families. Why is he silent now? Does he not have the courage to question Chandrababu?”
Perni Nani demanded immediate statewide raids on bars, belt shops and permit rooms, arrest of fake liquor mafia leaders, scrapping of the corrupt bar policy, and a judicial inquiry into the liquor mafia network operating in Andhra Pradesh. “This is not governance; this is a criminal empire. Chandrababu Naidu is the political protector of the liquor mafia,” he said.
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