Former YSRCP minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy, who is now in judicial custody in connection with an illegal mining case, is again facing a case of allegedly stockpiling illegal liquor during the elections during the last year’s elections period.
At that time, the authorities closed the case without considering it, but it is now coming back to the fore. During the 2024 elections, a large number of liquor dumps were found in the Sarvepalli constituency of Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district, which he represents. There were allegations that the YSRCP leaders stockpiled them to influence voters during the elections and that Kakani did all this by obstructing his power.
The then officials did not take it into account and registered a nominal case and waved their hands. Currently, Kurapati Vijayababu, a member of the SC community, has filed a complaint with the excise department officials on this. With this, the officials are busy in unearthing the irregularities of that time. Vijayababu has disclosed the relevant information to the police and officials.
According to Vijayababu’s story, “I contested as an MLA candidate from the YSRCP KP (Young Senior Rich Common People Kings Party) in the Sarvepalli constituency in the 2024 elections. After the election code came into effect, 2,649 bottles of liquor were found in the possession of YSRCP leaders Sudhakar Reddy and Rajagopal Reddy in Viruvur, Podalakur mandal, Sarvepalli constituency. I publicly criticized that the liquor was harmful to the health of the people.”
“Later, when Kakani’s followers came to know about this, they attacked me and threatened to kill me. The next day, the police came to my house and warned, ‘Why do you cultivate quarral with the minister? They will kill your family”. I was scared at that time and stayed at home. Later, the officials watered down this case,” he alleged.
Vijayababu stated in his present complaint to the excise department officials that the facts will come to light if the case is re-investigated now. This case, which was registered before the elections, has already been closed. After receiving a fresh complaint about this matter, the authorities took the matter to the court and the complainant’s statement was recorded again. With this, the investigation has been intensified.
Those involved in the case have already been questioned. It was found that a YSRCP leader from Viruvur had made large financial transactions at the time the liquor stocks were found. While the names of some other people are being heard in this case recently, official sources say that a case is likely to be registered for assaulting and threatening Vijayababu, a Dalit.
