Andhra liquor scam: 3 MLAs, politicians get notice

Stepping up its investigation into liquor syndicates in Andhra Pradesh, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has issued notices to three sitting members of Legislative Assembly, one of them from ruling Congress, and others asking them to appear before the ant-graft agency.

The three MLAs summoned by the ACB are M Kavita of the ongress, Venkata Veeraiah and Ramakrishna Babu (both from main Opposition Telugu Desam Party).

Besides the legislators, notices were also issued to 20 others, including some politicians, businessmen and son of a minister, ACB Director General B Prasada Rao said today.

Over the last few months, the ACB has been enquiring into the auction of liquor shop licences to benami (owned by proxy) holders, sale of liquor above the maximum retail price and other irregularities.

"We have asked them to appear before us between June 18 and 20. This is part of investigation. We will seek some details from them," Rao told PTI. He did not elaborate.

The ACB also issued notices among others to Communist Party of India leader and former member of Legislative Council Puvvada Nageswara Rao, Youth Congress leader from Srikakulam, D Ram Manohar Naidu alias Chinni, who is son of Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, and K Chenna Kesava Reddy, a former Congress MLA who is now YSR Congress candidate for the assembly by-poll from Yemmiganur seat.

The probe, which created a political turmoil in the State, is being monitored by the Andhra Pradesh high court.         

After searches, the ACB reportedly found names of politicians, excise department officials and journalists to whom liquor mafia had given bribes for protection of their business interests.

Ex-excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao had come under fire from the opposition over the liquor scam. Rao is now in jail in connection with the disproportionate assets case involving YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy.