Liquor Scam Accused Muppidi Avinash Reddy Surrenders After Supreme Court Denies Relief
In a significant development in the high-profile Andhra Pradesh liquor scam case, Muppidi Avinash Reddy surrendered before authorities on Tuesday. This move came shortly after the Supreme Court of India declined to grant him any relief and explicitly directed him to submit to the ongoing investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Immediately following his surrender, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada remanded Avinash Reddy to judicial custody until Wednesday. The court's decision was based on the detailed remand report submitted by the SIT, which outlines his alleged central involvement in the financial irregularities that have rocked the state.
Pivotal Role in Orchestrating the Scam
According to the SIT's comprehensive remand report, Avinash Reddy played a pivotal and instrumental role in the alleged multi-crore liquor scam. Investigators have stated that he, along with co-accused A1 Kesireddy Rajasekhar Reddy, was central to orchestrating the entire operation that led to massive revenue losses for the Andhra Pradesh government.
The SIT alleges that Avinash Reddy actively supervised key meetings with government officials and meticulously monitored the quantity of liquor orders placed through the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited (APBCL). He is accused of acting as a de facto officer in running the day-to-day affairs of APBCL and wielding considerable influence over critical decisions.
Allegations of Bribes and Financial Manipulation
The investigation has uncovered a complex web of financial manipulation. The SIT claims that after liquor supply orders were finalized, bribes were systematically collected in the form of commissions from various distillery companies. One such entity named in the remand report is Aadhan Distelaries (A25), which allegedly generated fake bills worth ₹21 crore under the guise of legitimate liquor supply orders.
To facilitate the diversion of funds and legitimize the illicit transactions, the accused are said to have:
- Created a network of shell companies
- Fabricated waybills and transport bills
- Generated fraudulent invoices
- Influenced the discontinuation of established liquor brands and the introduction of new ones
Operational Hubs and Evasion Tactics
The SIT further revealed that frequent planning meetings for these financial operations were held in the upscale Jubilee Hills area. In a dramatic twist, the report notes that Avinash Reddy reportedly fled to Thailand after a related liquor smuggling case surfaced, successfully evading investigators for a considerable period before his eventual surrender.
This case continues to unfold as investigators dig deeper into the alleged corruption that has siphoned off significant state revenue through the liquor distribution network.
