Even as senior YSR Congress party leader and former MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy is still languishing in jail in connection with the alleged liquor scam that took place during the previous YSRCP regime, it is now the turn of party MP from Rajampet P Mithun Reddy to face the imprisonment.
On Tuesday, the Andhra Pradesh high court dismissed the anticipatory bail petition of Mithun Reddy in a major liquor scam case. Mithun Reddy is named as Accused No. 4 (A4) in the case.
During Thursday's hearing, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing CID/SIT, argued that the liquor supply system in Andhra Pradesh was once transparent through online mechanisms.
However, under the YSRCP rule, this was switched to a manual process, with MP Mithun Reddy playing a key role in the shift.
He claimed that by altering the system, Mithun Reddy gained control over the transactions, and licenses were granted only to companies that paid bribes.
The alleged scam reportedly caused a loss of Rs 3,500 crore to the state exchequer, with Mithun Reddy said to have played a central role in diverting the money.
Luthra also submitted that witnesses had named Mithun Reddy as the "mastermind" behind the strategy and implementation of the scam, and evidence had been gathered to support this.
He accused the MP of misusing his office and not cooperating with the investigation, pointing out that there are 8 criminal cases registered against him.
On the other hand, senior advocate T. Niranjan Reddy, appearing for Mithun Reddy, argued that the petitioner had no connection to the liquor policy introduced by the government and sought anticipatory bail with conditions.
The high court, having previously reserved its verdict after completing the hearing, delivered its judgment on Tuesday, dismissing the anticipatory bail plea.