Vijayawada, February 26 – Muppidi Avinash Reddy, an accused in the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam case, surrendered to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) here on Thursday.
This came two days after the Supreme Court refused to grant him anticipatory bail and directed him to surrender to the police by February 26.
Avinash Reddy is the seventh accused in the Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam, allegedly committed during the YSRCP's rule.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant stated that Avinash Reddy must surrender and cooperate with the investigation.
The apex court also rejected his request for protection from arrest but granted him the liberty to apply for regular bail before the trial court.
Avinash Reddy approached the Supreme Court after the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.
The prosecution argued that Avinash Reddy was evading arrest and was suspected to have fled the country. They also told the court that the main accused, Raj Kesi Reddy, helped Avinash Reddy escape from the country.
Avinash Reddy is alleged to have laundered money collected through commissions from liquor suppliers to safe havens in other countries.
Following the Supreme Court order, Avinash Reddy surrendered at the SIT office in Vijayawada.
The case involves the multi-crore scandal allegedly committed by manipulating excise policy and receiving kickbacks from distilleries.
After the TDP-led NDA came to power in 2024, a case was registered at the CID Police Station in Mangalagiri under Sections 409, 420, 120 (B), r/w 34 and 37 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7, 7A, 8, 12, 13 (1), (b), 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) initially conducted an investigation following a complaint by an official of the Excise Department. Later, the government constituted the SIT, headed by NTR District Commissioner of Police S.V. Rajashekhar Babu, to probe the case.
The SIT found large-scale irregularities and fund misappropriation in the liquor policy implemented during 2019-24. Investigators reportedly uncovered a kickback network involving nearly Rs 3,500 crore siphoned off over five years.
There are allegations that YSR Congress Party leaders encouraged the new liquor policy, floated new brands, received kickbacks from the distillery companies, causing huge losses to the government.
The SIT has named several accused in the case, including MPs, retired IAS officers, distillery companies, and shell company owners.