“News reports confirm that one out of every three liquor bottles sold in the state is spurious,” YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Former Chief Minister and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of turning Andhra Pradesh into the country’s “number one State” in the spurious liquor trade.
In a post on X on Sunday (October 5, 2025), Mr. Reddy condemned the recent incident in Mulakalacheruvu, Annamayya district, where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders were allegedly found operating a counterfeit liquor factory.
Mr. Reddy claimed the episode exposed the deep-rooted liquor mafia that flourished under Mr. Naidu’s leadership. “This is not just illegal trade; it is an organised crime that endangers lives and loots the state exchequer,” Mr. Reddy said.
The former Chief Minister alleged that Mr. Naidu had deliberately dismantled government liquor shops and handed control to a private syndicate-driven network. According to him, liquor shops, belt shops, and illegal permit rooms were being run under TDP patronage, with illicit liquor manufacturing units operating openly.
“News reports confirm that one out of every three liquor bottles sold in the state is spurious. This is the scale of danger TDP has created,” Mr. Reddy said.
Citing Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) data, Mr. Reddy highlighted the financial damage caused by the alleged syndicate. During the first five months of Financial Year 2024–25, when liquor sales were routed through government outlets, excise revenue stood at ₹6,782.21 crore.
In FY 2025–26, under what he described as TDP’s “free-for-all” model, revenue increased only marginally to ₹6,992.77 crore — a rise of just 3.10%. “Normally, natural growth alone would be around 10%. This proves that the government’s rightful income is being siphoned off while public health is being put at risk,” he charged.
Mr. Reddy further alleged that counterfeit liquor rackets have been surfacing across North Andhra, Godavari districts, and Rayalaseema, but investigations were being diluted.
In Mulakalacheruvu, Mr. Reddy claimed, the police shielded a senior TDP in-charge and his associates while trying to deflect blame onto outsiders. “This entire racket operates with full knowledge, direction, and protection from Mr. Naidu and his network. People’s health and lives are being traded for the illegal fortunes of one party,” Mr. Reddy alleged.
Demanding accountability, the YSRCP chief held Mr. Naidu directly responsible for what he described as systematic loot through fake liquor and mafia networks. “For the sake of personal wealth, you are gambling with public health and robbing the state treasury. Is this justice?” Mr. Reddy asked.
Published – October 05, 2025 05:07 pm IST
