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AP, TS unite to check liquor mafia
Spurious liquor entering the two states from Goa has brought together the two Telugu-speaking states. Both the states decided to join hands as the arrest of a group of bootleggers in Anantapur revealed how a strong network of the liquor mafia had taken roots robbing the exchequer to the extent of over Rs 200 crore for each state.
Involvement of politicians suspected
Hyderabad: Spurious liquor entering the two states from Goa has brought together the two Telugu-speaking states. Both the states decided to join hands as the arrest of a group of bootleggers in Anantapur revealed how a strong network of the liquor mafia had taken roots robbing the exchequer to the extent of over Rs 200 crore for each state. This is being seen as a major scam after the liquor scam that had surfaced in the undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2012 which had sent chill down the spine of several politicians.
Following the arrest of some bootleggers in Anantapur, smelling a rat, the Enforcement Directorate of the AP State Excise and Prohibition Department did a detailed investigation. They found that spurious liquor at rates much cheaper than the branded spirit was being supplied to licensed wine shops in both the states.
Sources in the department told The Hans India that the mafia with the support of political leaders and official machinery was brewing liquor in some hideouts in Goa and was smuggling it into AP via Belgaum in Karnataka. The smugglers later transport bottled liquor to Anantapur from where it is distributed to Chittoor, Kadapa, Srikakulam, Vishakaptanam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.
As far as Telangana is concerned a second network has been formed which brings liquor from Goa to Kurnool and from here it is supplied to outlets in Telangana districts, particularly Mahbubnagar, Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.
Sources said the liquor is smuggled in bottles packed in cartons with stickers depicting branded noodles and potato chips with fake invoices which are shown at the check posts at border areas. In some cases, buses are being used for the transportation of spurious liquor. On examination, these liquor bottles look exactly like the original ones manufactured by the licensed breweries and bottling units in AP and Telangana.
The officials of the Enforcement wing claim that they had evidence of the role of some political leaders of both states in this illegal procurement of liquor. The officials, however, refused to name the politicians involved in this activity. AP and Telangana have jointly launched a probe to unearth the kingpins behind the liquor scam.
By:Patan Afzal Babu
