ED arrests Raj Kesireddy in Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Raj Kesireddy, one of the key accused in the alleged Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, intensifying its probe into the multi-crore case. The arrest came after the central agency carried out extensive searches at the residences and offices of several prominent individuals across the Telugu states. As part of the operation, ED officials conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations linked to Raj Kesireddy and six other individuals. Those searched reportedly included former Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) Managing Director D. Vasudeva Reddy, his relative Narasimha Reddy, and locations associated with former minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao, among others.

According to the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by the agency, a total of 33 individuals have been named as accused in the case. The ED alleges that the liquor scam took place during the previous YSRCP government’s tenure and involved large-scale irregularities in the liquor procurement and distribution system.

Investigators claim to have gathered preliminary evidence suggesting that thousands of crores of rupees were allegedly collected as illegal commissions and kickbacks from distilleries and liquor suppliers. The agency estimates that nearly Rs 3,200 crore may have been generated through the alleged scheme.

The ED further suspects that the proceeds of crime were routed through a network of shell companies and dummy entities to conceal the money trail and evade detection. Officials are now focusing on identifying the ultimate beneficiaries of the alleged kickbacks and tracing the flow of funds through hawala and other financial channels. With the arrest of Raj Kesireddy, the investigation has entered a crucial phase. The central agency is expected to intensify questioning of key accused and scrutinize financial transactions to determine who masterminded the alleged liquor syndicate and who ultimately benefited from the purported illegal collections.