Delhi liquor scam: ED makes first high-profile arrest in AP

HYDERABAD: In the first major arrest in Andhra Pradesh by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is probing the Delhi liquor scam, arrested YSRC MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy's son Raghava Reddy late on Friday night.

A court in Delhi on Saturday granted the ED 10-day custody of Raghava Reddy for questioning. Raghava Reddy's counsel objected, stating that his arrest was illegal and that the ED had no right to take police custody of the accused.

The ED alleged that Raghava Reddy had transferred ` 5 crore to Indo Spirit of Sameer Mahendru through different accounts and individuals with one Prem Rahul acting as the dummy. The ED has sought Raghava Reddy’s custody for 10 days for questioning.

In his statement to ED officials, Prem Rahul said that he was a dummy of Raghava Reddy in the business of Indo Spirit. Raghava Reddy transferred money from his bank account to Bhuthalapalli Pavani (`70 lakh), Bhuthalapalli Sreedhar (`65 lakh), Bhuthalapalli Malathi (`2.1 crore) and `1.50 crore to B. Gopal Reddy in 2021, the ED said.

"In turn the four transferred the amount to Prem Rahul Manduri, who eventually sent the money into Indo Spirit’s account,” the agency said. Raghava Reddy also played a key role in South Group in which several Telugu businessmen are involved in the liquor scam.

ED officials summoned Raghava Reddy for questioning and arrested him. Srinivasulu Reddy was present when the ED officials produced his son before the court.

Meanwhile, the three-day police custody of chartered accountant Gorantla Buchi Babu, arrested recently by the CBI, ended on Saturday. After being produced before the court, Buchi Babu was returned to judicial remand till February 25 in Tihar jail.