HYDERABAD: Alleging that excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao's son Rajeev is running InBev International Pvt Ltd to market and distribute Black Eagle beer in the state, the Telugu Desam has said Rajeev got the agency only after Rao took charge as excise minister.
Speaking with reporters here on Wednesday, TDP general secretary Varla Ramaiah said Rajeev was the sole distributor of the InBev beer. He applied for agency on June 16, 2011 and got it on July 11, Ramaiah said and wondered how the 22yearold Rajeev could get the distribution rights in such a short time. It became possible because Mopidevi was the excise minister, the TDP leader alleged and wanted the authorities to register a quid pro quo case against the minister.
The TDP leader said that no one could believe if the minister said that liquor dealer Ramana, who said the minister was paid a bribe of Rs 10 lakh by the liquor syndicate, was a criminal. "If Ramana is a criminal and part of liquor syndicate, why has the excise minister failed to take action against him?" Ramaiah wondered.
Asked about Ramana also disclosing the name of TDP MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, the TDP leader said that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu ordered an inquiry by a party committee.
Ramaiah demanded that irrespective of political considerations, the government should take action against all liquor syndicates. "The TDP will welcome it if the government takes action against the minister or any leader of any political party," Ramaiah said.
