The entry of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the investigation of the alleged liquor scam during Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's regime has triggered a political storm.
Although the ED was expected to intervene earlier, it officially registered a case only on Thursday, much to the satisfaction of Telugu Desam Party leaders.
Senior TDP MLA and former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said the ED’s involvement would fully expose the scam.
“We’ve been saying from the beginning that the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam is not limited to â¹3,200 crore, but exceeds â¹10,000 crore. There's clear evidence of money laundering, making this scam bigger than the Bofors, 2G, or Delhi liquor scams,” he asserted.
The ED has now registered a money laundering case in connection with the scandal and is considering action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against key individuals allegedly involved.
The reported irregularities took place during the previous YSRCP government’s tenure. Officials are currently examining potential evidence implicating several individuals.
The central agency has requested details from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) chief and the Vijayawada Police Commissioner, including the FIR and related documents.
As part of its probe, the ED will also investigate the roles of liquor agents, vendors, and government officials.