Sunday, July 15, 2012

‘Minister lords over 200 liquor shops’ :- 14.6.12-TOI


Hyderabad: Liquor syndicate leader Balaraj Goud (who was arrested by ACB cops after a prolonged and intense search) allegedly confessed to ACB sleuths that he had been operating or had links with more than 500 liquor shops, belt shops and bar and restaurants across the Hyderabad region in which the followers of state horticulture minister Ramreddy Venkata Reddy alone controls more than 200 shops.
    In fact, Yadagiri Reddy and Narsa Reddy who run the liquor syndicate in the Hyderabad region along with three others are none other than minister Venkat Reddy's relatives. They also have a major say in Medak syndicate which is being run by one Raju Yadav.
    Interestingly, in his confession report, Balaraj also shared details of how he fled to Jharkhand in his bid to evade arrest by the ACB sleuths and took the help of that state’s DGP's brotherin-law Tiwari in Dhanbad. He also met one Netaji who is a close confidante of Jharkhand's chief minister and had even toyed with the idea of settiling down in Ranchi by setting up a ceramics business there. Balaraj said he was into toddy trade before he switched over to liquor business five years ago.
    He shared information about more than 1000 shops in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Mahbubnagar districts, etc, and also about the leaders who are running them in benami names. Even Balraj has several benami shops in Hyderabad.
    Though Bharatsimha Reddy of Mahbubnagar used to have a huge say in liquor business earlier, now he does not posess any commanding share in the trade, Balaraj reportedly said in his confession report.
    Balraj also reportedly told the sleuths as to how he used to bribe police, excise and media persons to ensure smooth running of his liquor trade.
Another liquor mafia arrest in city
Hyderabad: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths on Wednesday arrested another liquor syndicate leader from the city, one Srikanth Goud of Gaganmahal. With his arrest, the number of syndicate leaders from the city in police custody has reached four. The 30-year-old Goud has been operating nine benami liquor shops. According to ACB sleuths, all the benamis were white ration card holders. Since ACB began enquiring about his whereabouts on June 5, Srikanth along with his mother fled from their Gaganmahal residence to hide at a friend’s farmhouse on the outskirts of the city.
    However, police traced phone calls of his close associates and nabbed him from his hideout on Wednesday evening. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody till June 27. Before Srikanth, ACB had arrested three other syndicate leaders — Balraj Goud, Ajay Goud and Raju Yadav — from the city.

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