AP Liquor Scam: YSRCP MP Reddy Gets Two-Day SIT Custody
Court grants police custody for Midhun Reddy questioning.
A local court in Andhra Pradesh sent shockwaves through the political landscape on Thursday, granting the Special Investigation Team (SIT) two days of police custody to interrogate YSRCP Lok Sabha MP PV Midhun Reddy in connection with a staggering Rs 3,200 crore liquor scam allegedly orchestrated during the YSRCP government’s tenure from 2019 to 2024. Reddy, the three-time MP from Rajampet and listed as accused number 4 (A4), was arrested on July 19 and now faces intense scrutiny over his alleged role in a complex web of financial misconduct.
The court’s order permits interrogation from 8 AM to 6 PM on September 19 and 20, with stringent conditions: mandatory medical checkups, the presence of Reddy’s advocate, and humane treatment. While the SIT sought five days to probe Reddy’s purported involvement in money transfers, liquor brand manipulations, and shell company operations, the judge restricted custody to two days to verify conspiracy-related claims, citing prior interrogations in April and July.
Prosecutors allege a deep-rooted political-business nexus, accusing Reddy and associates of rigging liquor procurement, suppressing popular brands, promoting new labels for kickbacks, and funneling illicit profits through shell entities. The scam, they claim, siphoned off billions during the YSRCP’s rule, undermining state revenues and fair trade practices.
Also Read: Andhra Pradesh Assembly Session Kicks Off, Opposition Boycotts Proceedings
Reddy, however, filed a counter-petition, vehemently denying the charges as “politically motivated” harassment targeting his opposition status. His legal team argued that he was absent from the original FIR, only added later via a memo after failed anticipatory bail bids in higher courts. They slammed the SIT’s reliance on “hearsay witnesses” and lack of direct evidence, noting that earlier interrogations yielded no new insights. “This is a calculated move to tarnish his political image and sensationalize the probe through media leaks,” the petition claimed, urging the court to dismiss the custody request.
The high-profile case has ignited a firestorm, with YSRCP leaders decrying it as vendetta by the ruling coalition, while authorities insist on accountability for systemic corruption. As the SIT digs deeper, Reddy’s custody marks a critical juncture in unraveling one of Andhra Pradesh’s biggest financial scandals, with ripple effects across the state’s political and business spheres.
Also Read: YSRCP Chief Jagan Exposes ₹250 Crore Urea Scam in Andhra
