HYDERABAD: The ACB on Tuesday arrested another alleged member of the liquor mafia on charges of paying bribes to police and excise personnel. The man, Balraj Goud, is also accused of cheating a nationalised bank, a case that is being investigated by the CBI. Sources said Goud is a key figure in liquor syndicates operating in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medak districts.and has reportedly confessed to ACB personnel that he had paid up to Rs 1.80 crore as bribes to policemen, excise officials and political leaders for allowing liquor vends to sell above the MRP. The agency suspects that Goud is an investor in more than 100 liquor shops in the three districts, operating out of his base in Chikkadpally in Hyderabad.
Goud, who had been on the lam for three months, was arrested by ACB officials at Renigunta while travelling to Chennai. He was brought to Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Balraj Goud is also accused of borrowing more than Rs 20 crore from a nationalised bank .
The ACB had sent out lookout notices for Balraj Goud to all international airports on Feb 15 after a search of his house on Dec 16 last led to the discovery of documents and a hard disk indicating his involvement in liquor bribery.