Ex-MLA Vishnu's assets put under IT scanner

Vijayawada: There seems to be no respite for former MLA and Congress city unit president Malladi Vishnu despite getting bail in the case related to death of five persons due to consumption of adulterated liquor at Swarna Bar in Vijayawada. Mr Vishnu, who is out on bail after spending 14 days in the sub-jail, is now under the scanner of the income tax department. The IT department, which collected all the details of Vishnu’s properties, is currently assessing the sanctity of the assets, according to a senior police official.  

Following the assessment, the IT department may refer the case to the Enforcement Directorate for further investigation. Mr Vishnu has been questioned by SIT in the hooch case for six days,  before and after arrest. He owns various businesses, including that of liquor, and a majority of them are registered on the name of benamis.  

There are nearly 25 pending cases against the former legislator in last two decades, according to police. He allegedly has property worth several crores in Krishna and Guntur districts and a large part it is land at various prominent locations, including the capital region. He started his life as a car driver. Meanwhile, Mr Vishnu condemned the allegations and said there was no such inquiry into his assets.

Cops wait for CFSL report to take action against guilty:

The police are losing hold on the case relating to the death of five persons due to consumption of adulterlated liquor due to delay in submission of report by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory. Soon after the five persons died on December 7, several samples were sent to the SFSL, CFSL and the excise department’s laboratory.

The excise department laboratory’s report confirmed that there was no adulterating of liquor when it was delivered at the APBCL depot. The State FSL report, which is with police and a city court, has been kept a secret. However, it is believed that the report suggests adulteration of liquor with some unknown substance, in both water and liquor supplied tat the bar.

Police are waiting for the CFSL report as they can come to a conclusion on the deaths only after studying it. Nearly 48 days after  the incident, all the accused, including those present at the bar when the incident took place, are out on bail. Police who tired to get custody of Mr Vishnu failed to get it even after the submission of the state FSL report.

The case might take an entirely new turn once the Central FSL report is out. The CFSL report will give a clarification if the deaths were due to adulteration or due to any conspiracy. Earlier in the city, Supreme Court judge justice NV Ramana stressed the need for more laboratories in the country and speedy delivery of reports to solve cases without delay. Meanwhile, the suspended excise officials are also craving for the CFSL and State FSL reports as the final result may decide their future.