A Government Order (GO), issued by Chief Secretary K Vijayanand on Wednesday, 5 February, stated that the SIT will be headed by Vijayawada Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu.
Published Feb 06, 2025 | 11:48 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 06, 2025 | 11:48 AM
Andhra Pradesh Police. (Wikimedia)
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government forms a Special Investigation Team to probe alleged irregularities and corruption in the Beverages Corporation between October 2019 and March 2024. It will be headed by Vijayawada Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu.
The investigation into the alleged liquor scam under the previous YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh is set to gain momentum.
The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities and corruption in the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Ltd (APSBCL) between October 2019 and March 2024.
A Government Order (GO), issued by Chief Secretary K Vijayanand on Wednesday, 5 February, stated that the SIT will be headed by Vijayawada Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu.
Rajasekhar Babu will head a team comprising six more officers.
The team include Tirupati Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force Superintendent of Police (SP) L Subbarayudu, Ongole Vigilance & Enforcement Department Additional SP Kolli Srinivas, Mangalagiri Crime Investigation Department (CID) Additional SP R Srihari Babu, Dhone Deputy SP (Law and Order) P Srinivas, Inspector of Police K Shivaji, and Inspector of Police Ch Naga Srinivas.
After the TDP-led NDA formed the government in the state, the CID registered a case, on 23 September, based on a complaint by Revenue Department Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena. However, the investigation did not move forward.
Now that the SIT has been constituted, it is expected that the investigation will pick up speed.
The SIT will operate under the supervision of the CID Director General of Police (DGP) and has the authority to co-opt officers from any state government department for assistance in the investigation.
The SIT has been granted full police station powers under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, enabling it to conduct searches, seizures, witness examinations, and arrests.
All government departments have been directed to cooperate and provide any necessary information or technical support requested by the SIT. The team will submit fortnightly progress reports to the government through the CID DGP.
After assuming office in June last year, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu released a white paper revealing that retail liquor sales between 2019 and 2024 amounted to ₹99,413.5 crore, of which only ₹615.44 crore (0.62%) was processed through digital payments. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns regarding potential misappropriation of funds.
The report further highlighted allegations of coercive tactics used to dominate the liquor industry, including the forced acquisition of distilleries and the exclusion of multinational brands. These actions reportedly resulted in a loss of over ₹18,860 crore to the state exchequer.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
