Former Andhra Pradesh minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao has been arrested in the Andhra Pradesh liquor transportation scam, which has been called an "act of political vendetta" by the TDP-led coalition government. The arrest came almost a month after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition for anticipatory bail filed by the former minister.
The case relates to the alleged manipulation of the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation (APSBCL) liquor transportation tender process between 2020 and 2024.
The state's former ministers Chelluboyina Venugopala Krishna, Anil Kumar Yadav and Vidadala Rajini, in a joint statement, said a "false case" was created to target leaders of the opposition YSR Congress.
Karumuri, a senior leader, was unfairly arrested, they said, pointing out that his son Sunil was also arrested earlier and said the "entire family was being deliberately targeted".
In their letter, they said liquor procurement and sales during the YSRCP government were conducted transparently. "Illegal liquor was curbed, the number of liquor shops was reduced and retail outlets were operated by the government. Permit rooms and belt shops were also abolished".
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