Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to take uncompromising action against the manufacture and sale of spurious liquor across Andhra Pradesh. Chairing a high-level meeting with ministers and top officials, the Chief Minister stressed that no illegal brewing centers or rackets should be allowed to operate in the state.

“Spurious liquor endangers lives. Those involved in its production and supply must face stringent punishment,” Naidu said, while reviewing enforcement measures. He praised excise, enforcement, and police departments for curbing non-duty paid liquor smuggling over the past 15 months and called for the same determination in eliminating fake liquor operations within the state.

The review focused on the recent Mulakalacheruvu case in Annamayya district, where authorities identified 21 accused and arrested 12 so far, including individuals linked to illicit liquor trade. Officials reported that accused Addhepalli Janardhan Rao, who also runs an ANR Bar & Restaurant in NTR district, was found to be operating illegal liquor rackets along with his brother and associates. Raids on shops and premises revealed concealed stock of spurious liquor bottles, with further arrests expected.

The Chief Minister also raised concern over what he described as politically motivated disinformation campaigns. “Some groups are spreading fear by falsely claiming that one in three liquor bottles in the state is spurious. They are linking unrelated deaths to liquor and trying to mislead people,” he said, accusing YSRCP leaders of orchestrating such propaganda for political gain.

Naidu instructed officials to thoroughly investigate every allegation of liquor-related deaths, even through post-mortems and scientific verification, to establish the facts. “Expose the truth. If the claims are false, take strict legal action against those spreading fake news, whether in media or on social media,” he added.

The Chief Minister warned that the government would not tolerate attempts to cause panic among the public. “No one will be allowed to profit politically from fearmongering. The administration must act decisively,” he said.

Ministers Kollu Ravindra and Nara Lokesh attended the meeting in person, while others, including the Home Minister, joined via video conference. Naidu reminded his cabinet colleagues that YSRCP had a record of fake campaigns and drama politics, citing past incidents such as the 2019 Viveka murder controversy. He urged ministers to counter disinformation swiftly and to expose the opposition’s conspiracy-driven politics before the public.