ED nabs former Andhra minister in Rs 195-crore liquor transport case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former Andhra Pradesh minister Karumuri Nageswara Rao on Sunday, AUgust 23, in a money laundering case tied to alleged irregularities in liquor transport during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government, officials said.

Rao was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said. This is the second arrest linked to the family in this case — the agency had previously arrested his son, Karumuri Sunil Kumar, in June, after raiding the premises of both father and son.

Rao previously served as civil supplies minister in the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government. The case centres on allegations that those accused caused a wrongful loss of Rs 195.33 crore to the state exchequer through financial irregularities in the transport of liquor across Andhra Pradesh. The ED had registered a case under the PMLA in May to investigate these charges.

The agency has also previously arrested former state beverages corporation managing director Donthireddy Vasudeva Reddy, along with Kasireddy Raja Sekhar Reddy, who is named as the prime accused in the case.

(With inputs from PTI)