ED arrests ex-Andhra minister Nageswara in liquor transport scam

The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday arrested former Andhra Pradesh minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the transport of liquor during the previous YSRCP Government, officials said.

Rao was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

In June, the central probe agency had arrested his son Karumuri Sunil Kumar in this case after the premises of the father-son duo were raided.

Rao has served as the civil supplies minister in the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Government.

The probe pertains to an allegation that the accused persons caused wrongful loss to the tune of Rs 195.33 crore to the Government exchequer through financial irregularities in the transport of liquor in the State.

A case was registered by the ED under the PMLA in May to probe these charges.

The agency has also arrested former State Beverages Corporation managing director Donthireddy Vasudeva Reddy and the prime accused in the case, Kasireddy Raja Sekhar Reddy.