More cases registered in Andhra liquor scam
April 17th, 2012 - 9:42 pm ICT by IANSHyderabad, April 17 (IANS) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Andhra Pradesh has registered six more cases relating to the fraud committed in auction of liquor shops in six districts.
The ACB, which submitted its status report to state high court Monday, Tuesday said it was focusing on the real beneficiaries running the liquor shops in the names of people who hold white ration (below poverty line) cards.
“ACB is aware of the financially sound people owning white ration cards but that is not the focus of investigation. This irregularity will be taken care of by the district administration,” the agency said in a statement here.
“ACB applied this primary filter only to initiate investigation and reach the core offenders who obtained licences in the name of innocent people with an intention to gain control over liquor trade in the districts,” it added.
The ACB said it learnt that in some districts, the core offenders asked these innocent people to go on a “pilgrimage” and be not available for ACB investigation. It requested the local elders to counsel them not to be afraid of ACB but to assist in investigation.
The investigations revealed that over 60 percent of license holders in Srikakulam, East Godavari, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool districts possess white ration cards.
The high court Monday asked the ACB to rope in income tax department in the investigations to probe how white card holders managed to mobilize the huge money required for the liquor shop licenses.
The case has political ramifications as it allegedly involves some top politicians including a few ministers. The liquor traders are allegedly paying huge money to politicians, excise and police officials to cover up their irregularities.
The court has also asked the government to reconsider the transfer of ACB additional director Srinivas Reddy, who was heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the scam.
The opposition parties alleged that the government transferred the official to shield ministers involved in the scam.
- Court asks Andhra to reconsider probe official's transfer - Apr 16, 2012
- Andhra minister asked to quit over bribe charge - Feb 08, 2012
- Andhra excise ministers rules out resignation (Lead) - Feb 08, 2012
- Notices to three Andhra legislators in liquor pay-off scam - Jun 09, 2012
- Raids on liquor syndicates in Andhra - Jan 27, 2012
- Andhra opposition protests transfer of official probing liquor scandal - Apr 06, 2012
- Ignoring opposition protests, Andhra transfers police official (Lead) - Apr 06, 2012
- Andhra official probing liquor scandal transferred - Apr 04, 2012
- Andhra high court admits petition for liquor mafia probe - Feb 27, 2012
- TDP demands sacking of Andhra ministers - Dec 20, 2011
- Toll in Andhra hooch tragedy rises to 18 - Jan 02, 2012
- Court wants probe into Maharashtra land scam: Activist - Jul 03, 2012
- FIR against builder, bureaucrat in Mumbai land scam - Jul 05, 2012
- Andhra CBI judge arrested in cash-for-bail case - Jun 19, 2012
- Suspended judge sent to police custody in bribery scam - Jun 29, 2012
Tags: acb, corruption bureau, district administration, east godavari, excise, investigation team, irregularities, irregularity, kadapa, kurnool, line cards, liquor shop, liquor shops, liquor trade, monday tuesday, opposition parties, police officials, political ramifications, poverty line, ration cards