YSRCP MP Arrested in Rs 3,200 Crore Liquor Scam
Andhra Pradesh Police Detain PV Midhun Reddy Following Hours of Questioning
Andhra Pradesh police arrested YSRCP Lok Sabha member PV Midhun Reddy on Saturday in connection with an alleged ₹3,200 crore liquor scam dating back to the previous YSRCP administration. The arrest occurred in Vijayawada following an extended interrogation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Investigation Intensifies
Midhun Reddy, currently serving his second term as MP for the Rajampet constituency, had arrived in Vijayawada on Thursday to cooperate with the probe. His detention follows the earlier arrests of other individuals implicated in the case, including Dhanunjay Reddy, Krishna Mohan Reddy, and Balaji Govindappa.
“Yes (he has been arrested). The process (to produce him before a court) is going on,” confirmed Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha to the press.
Opposition Cries Foul
The YSRCP has decried the arrest, accusing Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of engaging in “vindictive behaviour.” Senior YSRCP leader Malladi Vishnu stated that the case against Midhun Reddy is part of a broader plan to target individuals close to the party’s leadership.
“But we will bounce back to call the bluff of Chandrababu Naidu,” he asserted, adding that increasing vindictive actions by the Naidu government would only strengthen the YSRCP’s resolve to expose the current coalition government’s alleged failures and corruption.
—Malladi Vishnu, Senior YSRCP Leader
The party maintains that the charges are fabricated. The liquor scam, under investigation, involves a substantial amount, highlighting a significant financial scandal. For instance, in a separate but comparable financial investigation in India, the Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth over ₹600 crore in connection with a money laundering case linked to excise policy violations. (Source: Business Standard, August 2023)
Family Legacy and Legal Confidence
Another senior YSRCP figure, L Appi Reddy, emphasized Midhun Reddy‘s family background, noting a long and distinguished political history. Appi Reddy expressed confidence in the legal process.
“I am confident that justice will prevail and that the judiciary will act fairly. His decision to attend the inquiry shows his determination to prove his innocence and his respect for the rule of law,” Appi Reddy stated.
—L Appi Reddy, Senior YSRCP Leader