Hyderabad: In a sensational revelation that nailed the existence of a powerful liquor syndicate in the state, a liquor trader and a key liquor syndicate man in Khammam and Warangal districts told the ACB sleuths that he paid Rs 10 lakh bribe to excise minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana and that it has become a common practice in the liquor trade to regularly pay bribes to politicians, including those in the opposition and media as well as excise officials.
This became public in the remand report of the ACB sleuths from Warangal when they produced liquor dealer Nunna Venkata Ramana before the ACB court in Hyderabad a couple of days ago. In his confessional statement, Venkata Ramana described
how the tipplers are made to pay more than the maximum retail price (MRP) printed on the liquor bottles. Not only this, he also listed as to how bars and shops are allowed to run beyond the stipulated timings, and much more.
According to the remand report, the liquor syndicate collects money from wine shops to pay bribes to several sections in the society, like politicians, excise, police, media etc. ‘Excise minister took bribe’
According to Ramana, Mopidevi, who happens to be the excise minister, took the bribe directly from him and another trader, Babji of Chandra Wines in Khammam, in the presence of Rajababu, a classmate of the minister.
Interestingly, accused Ramana is a former RPF constable who left the job in 1991 when the authorities transferred him to Secunderabad from Dornakal in Warnagal and started his new life as a sleeping partner in two wine shops in 1994. Today, he has 29 wine shops in Khammam district.
The confession report also carried the names of CPI and CPM leaders who figured as having taken money from the liquor traders.
Puvvada Nageswara Rao of CPI took Rs 3 lakh from the accused for his 29 shops. TDP's Sathupalli MLA Venkata Veeraiah got Rs 3 lakh as bribe. M Kavitha, MLA of Mahabubabad of Warangal district got Rs 5 lakh from the liquor syndicate. CPM district secretary of Khammam Sudarshan got Rs 3 lakh and TRS district secretary Rajendar collected Rs 60,000.
The accused also poured out several details about how they paid lakhs of rupees as bribes to several officials of the excise department.
This became public in the remand report of the ACB sleuths from Warangal when they produced liquor dealer Nunna Venkata Ramana before the ACB court in Hyderabad a couple of days ago. In his confessional statement, Venkata Ramana described
how the tipplers are made to pay more than the maximum retail price (MRP) printed on the liquor bottles. Not only this, he also listed as to how bars and shops are allowed to run beyond the stipulated timings, and much more.
According to the remand report, the liquor syndicate collects money from wine shops to pay bribes to several sections in the society, like politicians, excise, police, media etc. ‘Excise minister took bribe’
According to Ramana, Mopidevi, who happens to be the excise minister, took the bribe directly from him and another trader, Babji of Chandra Wines in Khammam, in the presence of Rajababu, a classmate of the minister.
Interestingly, accused Ramana is a former RPF constable who left the job in 1991 when the authorities transferred him to Secunderabad from Dornakal in Warnagal and started his new life as a sleeping partner in two wine shops in 1994. Today, he has 29 wine shops in Khammam district.
The confession report also carried the names of CPI and CPM leaders who figured as having taken money from the liquor traders.
Puvvada Nageswara Rao of CPI took Rs 3 lakh from the accused for his 29 shops. TDP's Sathupalli MLA Venkata Veeraiah got Rs 3 lakh as bribe. M Kavitha, MLA of Mahabubabad of Warangal district got Rs 5 lakh from the liquor syndicate. CPM district secretary of Khammam Sudarshan got Rs 3 lakh and TRS district secretary Rajendar collected Rs 60,000.
The accused also poured out several details about how they paid lakhs of rupees as bribes to several officials of the excise department.
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