The ongoing liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh has come to a turning point, compelling the coalition government to direct a full probe into the charges. A Special Investigation Team, or SIT, has been set up to look into the allegations, which involves fraud totalling thousands of crores. High ranking members of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) are the targets at the moment and the SIT has already called a select few of them to appear for investigative reasons.
One of the loudest voices in this probe, V. Vijayasai Reddy, has consistently identified Raj Kasireddy as the key figure involved in the scandal. He has done so both publicly and in his dealings with the SIT, calling for a greater emphasis on Kasireddy’s supposed role in the financial impropriety.
Responding to the allegations, Kasireddy has posted a public audio message, announcing his plan to disclose the complete facts of the scam. He promised that as soon as his legal protection was established, he would reveal the facts. Kasireddy’s lawyers have already filed petitions in the Supreme Court, and he has said that he will reveal his findings when he has the required legal protection. But Kasireddy has refused to reveal where he is or when he will appear.
Three notices have been sent out by the SIT asking Kasireddy to report for questioning, but he has not stopped dodging the authorities. Raids at his Hyderabad home have failed to catch him. At the same time, Vijayasai Reddy, while testifying, denied being involved in the scam himself but did agree that he had lent ₹100 crores each to Kasireddy and MP Mithun Reddy. He also went on to say that Kasireddy was the mastermind of the whole scam.
Kasireddy’s latest audio recording has made the investigation even more complex, and only time can tell how this will further affect the current legal cases.
