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AP High Court reserves judgment on liquor scam

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The Andhra Pradesh high court on Monday reserved the judgment on liquor scam against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and former minister Kollu Ravindra. The court heard the arguments from both sides of the petitioner and respondent.

The case is that Chandrababu Naidu as chief minister between 2014 and 2019 took new liquor policy benefiting a few select liquor manufacturers in the state. Then excise minister Kollu Ravindra also helped Chandrababu Naidu to take the decision.

State government alleged that both Naidu and Ravindra withdrew the privilege fee in the deal causing heavy loss to the state exchequer. In return they received huge money from the liquor manufacturers, the state government and the APCID said in their reports.

Arguing for Chandrababu Naidu, advocates Nagamutthu and Dammalapati Srinivas told the court that the withdrawal of privilege fee was not reported to Chandrababu Naidu. The file relating to the withdrawal of the fee did not go to Chandrababu Naidu. The decision was taken by then excise minister Kollu Ravindra and excise commissioner, the advocates told the court.

The file was not sent to the finance department, and it was the responsibility of the special chief secretary and not the minister or the chief minister, the advocates informed the bench. The case was filed with an evil intention, they said and requested the court to give anticipatory bail to both Chandrababu Naidu and Ravindra.

The case was filed based on a complaint by AP Beverages Corporation chairman Vasudeva Reddy. The government alleged that both Chandrababu Naidu and Ravindra took the decision, and it has nothing to do with the officials. The two mounted pressure on officials to ensure that the file is moved, and the privilege fee is withdrawn.

While reserving the judgment, the court told the police, particularly the CID not to arrest Chandrababu Naidu in the meanwhile. It wanted the government to wait for the judgment.

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TDP demands judicial probe into AP liquor policy

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Former minister and TDP senior leader K S Jawahar on Saturday demanded a judicial inquiry into the revenue generated through liquor sales and how this revenue is being diverted to his henchmen.

Jawahar said that before coming to power, Jagan Mohan Reddy promised to impose prohibition but after coming to power and becoming Chief Minister he transformed it into a maximum generating revenue source.

Jagan Mohan Reddy had said that he did not want to see any woman becoming a widow due to liquor consumption but after coming to power he made liquor business a major source of income. How many people died after consuming the strange brands of liquor and how many women became widows after Jagan Mohan Reddy became Chief Minister, he asked.

Jagan Reddy made prohibition a myth and always he thinks of how to make more money by selling liquor and sharing it with his henchmen, the TDP leader said.

Scared by Jagan’s policies, several liquor contractors who wanted to take part in the auction ran away like road contractors, he stated. Even MLAs and MLCs were threatened not to take part in the auctions and the YSRCP Government has no proper liquor policy except minting money, he noted.

Can Jagan cancel the present tenders and order for a judicial inquiry into the faulty tender system, Jawahar asked. The TDP strongly condemns the present policy and the tenders be recalled, he demanded.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

When CM Naidu Lost Cool…

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Of late Naidu is seen a bit squeamish-easily getting upset by  the events he doesn’t like. This happened in Vijyawada Friday. While Naidu reportedly expressed displeasure over some ministers’ performance in the cabinet meeting here here, some self-help group (SHG) women tasted his petulant behavior during a break in the cabinet net meeting.

A delegation of women from various Mahila Samakhyas led by All India Democratic Woman’s Association (AIDWA) called on him to represent the problems being faced by DWCRA women and the new liquor policy of AP government.
The women placed before him two problems. one, non-implementation of loan waiver for self-help groups and problems in the sand auction. Two, social and economic consequences of the new liquor policy.
Upon hearing the two issues, Naidu got irritated. Raised his vice with rage.

“What are you talking,” he disapproved their argument. “You are accusing my government. I know every problem the SHG women face in the state. You don’t teach,” he shouted at them. Unfazed, the women leaders did not relent from explaining the problems. They also replied Naidu in same pitch of voice and this led to an loud argument. People sitting on lawns came and surrounded them with curiosity. Later Naidu left abruptly to the meeting hall which surprised everybody.

” It is unfortunate that the chief minister agreed to give us an audience but failed receive us properly. He shouted on us when we genuinely tried to bring to his notice certain problems of poor women,” M Lakshmi, state general secretary of Progressive Organization of Women told media.

The reason for Naidu’s annoyance could be that AIDWA, an affiliate of CPM had taken up the cause of SHG women. He might not have liked idea of Communists questioning his liquor policy. Because state is targeting huge revenue from liquor sales by making it available even in super bazars and malls. Any idea that is aimed to cutting revenue from liquor would be taken by him as an affront on his government.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

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