The Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Thursday, arrested Kesireddy Rajasekhara Reddy alias Raj Kesireddy, former advisor to former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Raj Kesireddy is the main accused in the 349-crore liquor transport scam in Andhra Pradesh.
The arrest followed ED-conducted searches at 10 places in Hyderabad, linked to Kesireddy and six other accused in the case, including Kesireddy’s residence in Nanakramguda. Searches also took place at the residences and other premises of former civil supplies minister, Karumuri Nageswara Rao, his son, Karumuri Sunil Kumar, former MD, AP State Beverages Corporation Ltd, Vasudeva Reddy, and his relative, Narasimha Reddy.
Earlier, it was in 2025 that Kesireddy was arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh CID, and he was granted bail by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on April 7, 2026.
As per the ED, investigations revealed that cash kickbacks were collected and stored across multiple locations in Hyderabad, from where they were moved, distributed, or disposed of by designated cash handlers of the syndicate involved. Allegations suggest that hundreds of crores were moved in the liquor scam, and funds were diverted through hawala and money laundering channels.
The central agency’s probe has led to a money trail of 1048.45 crores in kickbacks. Distilleries were forced to provide these payments in various forms like cash and gold. Financial benefits were obtained from the transportation of liquor as well.
