For the last two days, there have been reports in various social media and also a section of digital media that the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department authorities have arrested former state beverages corporation managing director Donthireddy Vasudeva Reddy in connection with liquor scam.
The reports said the CID people had arrested Reddy on Saturday night from a hideout in Bengaluru and shifted him to a secret location and is questioning him to unearth the details of the scam. Reddy has been on a run for the last two months.
The CID, however, has not issued any statement with regard to his arrest. Sources, however, said the reports of Reddy’s arrest are far from true.
“He has still been absconding and the CID police are on the look out for his arrest. They also issued notices to his family members for questioning him in the case,” sources said.
Soon after TDP headed by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu came to power in Andhra Pradesh, Vasudeva Reddy has become the first target of the new government. He resigned from his post and quietly left for Hyderabad.
Following a complaint lodged by a person from Vijayawada, the CID police registered a case and conducted searches in his house at Nanakramguda in Hyderabad.
Vasudeva Reddy approached the state high court seeking anticipatory bail, but the high court refused to grant him any bail.
The scam involves establishment of illicit filling stations, distilleries and liquor depots over the last 5 years. The magnitude of the liquor scam is expected to be more than Rs 60,000 crore.
There are allegations against Vasudeva Reddy for committing large-scale irregularities in liquor purchases, tenders, and sales. He was also charged with allowing sale of non-duty paid liquor through government shops.
There are charges against Vasudeva Reddy on the issue of why cash transactions to the tune of 99,000 crore rupees were allowed in liquor sales in the last five years.