Who are the politicos behind the liquor syndicates that have shaken the government following ACB raids? According to sources, Bocha Satyanarayana, the PCC Chief, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, the PRP MLA from Vizag and G Buchaiah Chowdary, the TDP leader from Rajahmundry figure prominently in the liquor syndicate.
The liquor shops were formed into a ring, which enabled them to sell at whatever prices and through so-called ‘belt shops’ with the blessings of political leaders who themselves are involved in liquor business.
As many as 8 ministers and 47 MLAs from across parties including ruling Congress, TDP and PRP are said to be a part of the liquor syndicates in the state. Individual liquor shop owners were forced to be part of these syndicates run by ruling party top leaders.
Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana allegedly was aware of the syndicate and even a prominent beneficiary of the kickbacks.
The ACB is said to have in its possession all the names of prominent politicians who are active in liquor business and who resorted to collections from shop owners for distribution among the politician-bureaucrat nexus. ACB information is that every police station gets as much as Rs 2 lakh from the shops within its jurisdiction every month. Out of this amount, Rs 1.5 lakh goes to the syndicate.
However, all the information gathered by ACB is from the books maintained by syndicate offices. They need to be corroborated with evidence, if cases are to be filed.
