YSR Cong MP’s Son got Arrested, in Delhi Liquor Policy Scam
Raghav, a son of YSR Congress Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, was detained in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scandal. According to reports, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that Reddy and K Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, are the real owners of Indospirit in its second chargesheet from a week ago.
According to reports, Kavitha had stakes through liquor industry executive Arun Ramachandra Pillai. He was charged by the CBI last year along with businessmen Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally ootha Goutham, and Sameer Mahendru.
According to the chargesheet from the ED, “Arun Pillai said there was a contract between Kavitha and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP in his statement on November 12, 2022. Kavitha gained access to the Delhi alcoholic beverage industry in exchange for Rs 100 crore in kickbacks, notably shares of Indospirit (L1 bidder). In Indospirit, Kavitha was represented by Arun Pillai, who even joined as a partner on her behalf.
In addition, ED claimed, according to a report in the Times of India, “During discussions with Sameer, it was made obvious to him that the ultimate control of his business’s 65% ownership was with Magunta and Kavitha. Additionally, Pillai acknowledged scheduling FaceTime video calls for Kavitha and Sameer. Additionally, he set up a meeting between Sameer and Kavitha at her home in Hyderabad so that she could get an update on Indospirit’s business.
ED was looking into the money route and the role of the defendants in the case after citing Indospirit in the second chargesheet. Indospirit, which specialises in producing, distributing, importing, marketing, and selling alcoholic beverages, was said to be owned by Sameer Mahendru.
In addition to Sameer and the AAP’s communications coordinator Vijay Nair, the ED identified P Sarath Chandra Reddy of Aurobindo Pharma, businessman Abhishek Boinpally, executive of the beverage giant Pernod Ricard, Benoy Babu, and Buddy Retail Ltd. owner Amit Arora as defendants in the liquor case.
A chartered accountant from Hyderabad who is reportedly a former auditor of BRS MLC K Kavitha was detained by the CBI earlier this week in connection with the issue.
According to the CBI, Hyderabad-based wholesale and retail liquor licenses and their beneficial owners received “wrongful benefits” as a result of CA Butchibabu Gorantla’s involvement in the creation and implementation of the now-cancelled Delhi Excise Policy 2021–2022.
A review of the WhatsApp conversations that were recovered from his mobile phones, according to the agency, reveals “some incriminating facts about the creation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy.”
When requesting Gorantla’s detention, the CBI informed the special court that he “remained in regular contact with FIR-named accused people and other suspects during the relevant period.” In Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, where the “scheme was being plotted,” according to the officials, he also attended meetings with various suspects.
In connection with the matter, the CBI had also questioned Kavitha in December of last year. Along with the chartered accountant from Hyderabad, Rajesh Joshi, the owner of Chariot Media, and Gautam Malhotra, a former Shiromani Akali Dal MLA, were also detained this week.