MP Midhun Reddy held in ₹3,200-cr liquor case

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh police on Saturday arrested YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) lawmaker PV Midhun Reddy in connection with the ₹3,200 crore liquor case, officials aware of the matter said.

- Srinivasa Rao Apparasu

The arrest comes a day after the Supreme Court refused to grant protection from arrest to Reddy, who is facing allegations of corruption in the procurement carried out by the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL). Hours after the top court delivered its verdict on Friday, the SIT had filed a petition in a local court in Vijayawada seeking a warrant to arrest Reddy, officials said.

“Reddy will be produced before the local court in Vijayawada on Sunday,” an official privy to the development said on condition of anonymity.

Reddy, named as accused number 4 (A-4) in the case, was summoned by the SIT for questioning on Saturday. After the parliamentarian was questioned at the Crime Investigation Department (CID) office in Mangalagiri for nearly seven hours, the SIT authorities informed his family members about his formal arrest.

“The SIT authorities questioned him extensively about the flow of commissions received from liquor manufacturers into various alleged shell companies and from there to ultimate beneficiaries. The SIT produced all the evidence they gathered during the investigation before the MP to seek his explanation,” the official quoted above said.