Liquor Scam in Andhra Pradesh:
In a major development in the Rs. 3,200 crore liquor scam during the YSRCP government’s tenure, Balaji Govindappa, a key accused, has been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). Balaji is said to have played a central role in transferring illegal funds through shell companies to Tadepalli Palace, the residence linked to ex-CM Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Liquor Scam in Andhra Pradesh:

Balaji, a Chartered Accountant by profession and a director at Bharathi Cements, reportedly used his financial knowledge to move money illegally. He had earlier ignored SIT summons and went into hiding. The SIT team traced him to a wellness center in the BR Hills of Karnataka and arrested him there.

Officials say Balaji handled large sums of liquor kickbacks, moving them through shell companies that existed only on paper. These fake companies were reportedly created during the previous government’s time to channel the scam money into safe locations.

Balaji’s connection to the Jagan family started in 2009 when he worked under Vijay Sai Reddy, another CA closely linked to the family. Over time, Balaji became deeply involved in their financial affairs and rose to become a director at Bharathi Cements.

SIT now plans to investigate further to identify the final beneficiaries of the scam money, including who ordered the fund transfers and where the money was ultimately hidden. They are also looking into the fake GST invoices and hawala routes used for laundering.

Balaji’s arrest marks the fifth in this scam case. Other names like Raj Kasireddy, Dhanunjay Reddy, and Krishnamohan Reddy have also been linked to the scam. Notably, Balaji’s brother Srinivasulu was controversially made the Chittoor ZP Chairman during the YSRCP government, allegedly due to political influence.

This arrest may open up more details about the financial wrongdoings during the YSRCP regime and could lead to more high-profile names being exposed. The SIT will present Balaji in the Vijayawada court soon for further proceedings.

Also Read: Alarming Surge in Drunken Driving Cases in Hyderabad

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