Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, is set to question more accused following the statement of key accused Kasireddy Rajasekhara Reddy. A day after recording his statement, the ED reportedly secured new leads regarding financial irregularities. The agency is focusing on kickbacks received from various firms, investments in shell companies and hawala transactions.There are 33 accused in the case, including Kasireddy Rajasekhara Reddy, former secretary to the then chief minister Dhanunjaya Reddy, a former officer on special duty Krishna Mohana Reddy and Bharathi Cement Limited director Govindappa Balaji. The accused allegedly routed kickbacks through shell firms such as Nautical Green Energy, Ebot Energy Systems and Scooby Labs Robotics, located in Hyderabad. The SIT recently raided the premises of these firms and questioned their management. The ED is now cross-verifying financial data and call records to establish links between Rajasekhara Reddy, these companies, and their owners. An estimated Rs 3,200 crore in kickbacks was allegedly generated in the scam. Based on Rajasekhara Reddy’s testimony, the ED plans to question Dhanunjaya Reddy, Krishna Mohana Reddy and Govindappa Balaji to establish money laundering offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED officials also examined SIT remand reports, which allege that Krishna Mohana Reddy diverted funds from kickbacks by creating a liquor syndicate. Investigators are now focusing on hawala transactions routed through Hyderabad, Bengaluru and other cities and the suspected use of these funds to buy land. To trace the assets acquired over the past five years, the ED will question other arrested accused, the sources said. The agency will also examine the formulation of the state’s liquor policy, cash transactions in liquor sales, movement of money and purchase order details. The SIT has found that Dhanunjaya and Krishna Mohana Reddy involved their family members in fund diversion. The ED is also likely to question YSRC MP P. Mithun Reddy, former MP V. Vijayasai Reddy and staff of Kasireddy Rajasekhara Reddy to gather further leads.
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