Andhra Pradesh liquor scam a fabricated narrative of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, says YSRCP leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) State coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy has criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for “fabricating the liquor scam narrative” to deflect attention of the people from corruption during his previous term.

Addressing the media outside the ACB Special Court in Vijayawada on Friday, Mr. Ramakrishna Reddy alleged that the NDA government was engaged in a malicious campaign based on baseless theories.

He dismissed the SIT inquiry as speculative, and alleged that it was attempting to link the ₹11 crore seized recently to the case. He alleged that the real liquor scam had taken place during the TDP’s 2014–2019 term, when the annual privileged fee of ₹1,300 crore was waived without the Finance Department’s approval or Cabinet discussion. “Mr. Naidu himself had signed the file,” Mr. Reddy alleged.

Referring to the cash seizure, he alleged attempts to link the money to YSRCP leaders Kessireddy Raja Shekhar Reddy and MP P.V. Midhun Reddy, who were currently lodged in prison. “How can a person jailed for 90 days still control that money?” he asked.

He also criticised Mr. Naidu’s recent Singapore visit, saying the outcomes were not made public. “These foreign tours are merely an excuse to escape public accountability,” he said.