The Enforcement Directorate arrested former Andhra Pradesh minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao in its ongoing liquor transportation tender investigation.
AP Liquor Scam: ED Arrests Ex-Minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao
The Enforcement Directorate has arrested former YSR Congress Party minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao in connection with its investigation into the alleged Andhra Pradesh liquor scam. Karumuri was taken into custody in Hyderabad on Sunday, marking a significant development in a case that has already led to the arrest and questioning of several individuals linked to liquor transportation contracts during the previous YSRCP government.
According to reports, the ED is examining alleged irregularities in liquor transportation tenders handled by the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited, or APSBCL. The central agency is investigating whether the tender process was manipulated and whether funds connected to the contracts were routed through various entities.
Karumuri, who served as Civil Supplies Minister in the previous YSRCP administration, has been under the agency’s scanner as investigators examine the alleged money trail. The case is likely to intensify political debate in Andhra Pradesh, where the liquor policy and its implementation have remained a major point of contention.
AP Liquor Scam Probe Focuses On Tender Process And Money Trail
The ED’s investigation is focused on the liquor transportation tender process and alleged financial transactions linked to the contracts. Reports have put the suspected irregularities at around Rs 195 crore, though the allegations remain subject to the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings.
Officials are reportedly looking into whether funds were collected through contracts and subsequently moved through multiple channels. The agency is also examining allegations involving possible money laundering and hawala transactions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The case was initially investigated by the Andhra Pradesh CID after a complaint from the Vigilance Department. The ED later entered the matter to examine the suspected laundering of proceeds related to the alleged irregularities. Investigators are reviewing documents, tender records, banking details and the roles of people associated with the contracts.
The ED is expected to question Karumuri about the tender process, the alleged flow of funds and his reported connection to individuals already named in the investigation. Further details are expected to emerge after the agency completes its initial questioning and follows the required legal process.
ED Arrests In AP Liquor Case Include Karumuri’s Son And Others
Karumuri’s arrest follows earlier action against others in the case. His son, Karumuri Sunil Kumar, was arrested by the ED in June in connection with the same investigation. Former APSBCL managing director Vasudeva Reddy and businessman Raj Kasireddy have also been arrested as part of the probe, according to reports.
The agency has questioned several people while tracking the alleged money trail. The investigation aims to establish how the money was allegedly generated, transferred and used. The ED’s findings, if any, will have to be tested before the appropriate court.
Karumuri had earlier approached courts seeking protection from arrest. His anticipatory bail pleas were reportedly rejected, after which the ED proceeded with its action. His legal team and party representatives may respond to the arrest as the case moves forward.
AP Liquor Scam Arrest Adds Political Heat In Andhra Pradesh
The arrest of a former minister is expected to trigger strong political reactions in Andhra Pradesh. The case involves a period when the YSRCP was in power, and the latest ED action is likely to be used by rival parties to sharpen their criticism of the previous government.
At the same time, the YSRCP may question the timing and nature of the investigation, while insisting that the allegations should be established through due process. As of now, the ED probe is continuing, and no final judicial finding has been made on the allegations.
The next phase of the case will depend on the ED’s interrogation, the material placed before the court and any legal challenge mounted by Karumuri. The AP liquor scam investigation remains one of the most closely watched political and legal cases in the state.
