VIJAYAWADA: Former CM and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to be summoned by the probing agency for questioning to find the conclusion of money trail in the alleged multi-crore liquor scam during his regime.
The preliminary chargesheet submitted to the ACB court Vijayawada by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday has corroborated the alleged role of YS Jagan, suspecting him as the recipient or final beneficiary in the money trail.
In the 305-page document submitted to the ACB court, the name of YS Jagan was mentioned three times and SIT officials substantiated through several witnesses that he (Jagan) used to receive an average amount of Rs 50-60 crore every month in the form of commissions from liquor distilleries.
According to the chargesheet, YSRCP leaders called for a meeting with owners of the distilleries after the formation of YSRC government in 2019. The meeting was held by the Sajjala Sridhar Reddy (A6) at Hotel Park Hyatt in Hyderabad, where in the owners of the distilleries were told to cooperate with the orchestrated sale of liquor by raising planned indents and issuing manual OFS to select suppliers in the state.
During the meeting, the owners were warned that no orders will be issued to them if they do not accede to their proposals. Under the threat of loss of business, several distilleries agreed to pay kickbacks at a commission rate of 12 percent. Soon, the percentage was increased to 20 percent of the base price in the order for supply (OFS).
“The collected amounts were eventually handed over to Kesireddy Rajasekhar Reddy (A1). Rajasekhar Reddy would then pass the money to Vijay Sai Reddy (A5), Mithun Reddy (A4), Balaji Govindappa (A33) who would transfer it to former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. On an average, Rs 50-60 crore was collected every month. This is further corroborated by the statements of the listed witness,” the chargesheet states.
SIT likely to seek YSRCP MP’s custody
Party leaders and several others including government employees were accused of obtaining pecuniary gains and collected commissions from the liquor distilleries, and 12 persons including the Rajampet MP PV Mithun Reddy were arrested by Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials in the past four months. The investigation agency procured all the evidence pertaining to their role in formulation of liquor policy and its implementation causing a huge loss of over Rs 3,200 crore to the state exchequer.
According to sources, SIT officials are going to submit a petition seeking Mithun Reddy’s custody for questioning to unravel the mystery of money trail and final destination of the ill-gotten money collected from the liquor distilleries. “”We are keeping our options open. The money was collected by Kesireddy Rajashekar Reddy, Vijay Sai Reddy, Balaji Govindappa and others. We are trying to verify the money trail in the case and ascertain the final beneficiary,” said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.