GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 18th June: Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, a key aide of former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and general secretary of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), in connection with the multi-crore liquor scam. Bhaskar Reddy was detained late Tuesday night at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru while allegedly attempting to flee the country, immigration officials confirmed.
A lookout circular (LOC) had been issued against him by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the liquor scam. After being intercepted by immigration authorities, Bhaskar Reddy and his aide Venkatesh Naidu were arrested by the SIT in the early hours of Wednesday and are being transported to Vijayawada, where they will be produced before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court.
According to SIT updates submitted to the court on Tuesday, Bhaskar Reddy, a former MLA from Chandragiri, is the 38th accused in the scam. The total number of arrests in the case has now reached 39.
Bhaskar Reddy has denied any involvement in the scam and alleged police excesses during the investigation. He claimed the SIT forcibly attempted to extract a false confession from N. Madan Reddy, a head constable who served as his gunman for a decade. The constable has since filed a complaint with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the Director General of Police, accusing SIT officials of physical assault.
Meanwhile, Bhaskar Reddy’s son and YSRCP leader Chevireddy Mohith Reddy slammed the TDP-led coalition government, alleging a political conspiracy. He accused the SIT of employing coercive methods and police brutality to fabricate evidence against his father.
Mohith Reddy stated that multiple former gunmen, including Giri and Madan Reddy, were summoned and tortured for refusing to provide false testimonies. He said Madan Reddy is now hospitalised and has moved the High Court seeking protection from further harassment.
“This is a clear case of misuse of law enforcement to target political opponents,” said Mohith Reddy, questioning the legality of the SIT’s actions.
The Andhra Pradesh government and the SIT are yet to respond to the allegations of custodial assault and political vendetta.
