HYDERABAD: Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted searches on premises owned by Ongole YSR Congress MP and liquor baron Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy in Nellore, Chennai and Delhi in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam in which deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is accused No. 1 in the FIR filed by the CBI.
ED suspects Balaji Distilleries, connected to the Andhra MP, is an alleged beneficiary of Delhi excise policy. Balaji Distilleries' factory in Chennai was searched along with the MP's houses at Lodhi Estate in Delhi and Nellore. "Magunta's family controls liqour business not only in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but also in Delhi," sources said.
The ED searched the Delhi residence of the MP with regard to the money laundering probe revolving around the excise policy. In Nellore, searches were conducted in the office of Magunta layout and residences in Rebala village in Buchireddypalem mandal.
Magunta and his family, in 2019 poll affidavit, had declared shares in United Spirits Limited and other distilleries. ED also conducted searches on Chennai-based Angel Champagne LLP. Magunta was former director of the company. Tamil Nadu Distillery Industrial Alcohol Private Ltd was among those searched.
While Balaji Distilleries came under its sharp focus, the ED is also looking into the role of Hyderabad-based Sri Avantika Contractors (I) Private Ltd, Magunta Agro Farms and Trident Chemphar Ltd. ED sleuths conducted searches at 40 locations across the country, including 23 in Hyderabad, Nellore and Chennai.
Anoo's beauty parlour's corporate office was also searched. TOI had earlier revealed that Robin Distributors LLP, floated by scam-accused businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, had the same address as that of Anoo's parlour in Secunderabad.
Searches were also conducted on Arun Pillai as well as other suspects like Abhishek Boinpally in Hyderabad. Premises of Abhishek, who is a director along with Arun Pillai, and Abhinay Reddy Kolli, a director in several firms, were also searched at Gachibowli, Madhapur, Kokapet and Secunderabad. Several auditors of the companies were also searched by ED officials in Hyderabad and Delhi.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Sudhakar Reddy Udumula is the Editor (Investigation) at the Times...
Read MoreSudhakar Reddy Udumula is the Editor (Investigation) at the Times of India, Hyderabad. Following the trail of migration and drought across the rustic landscape of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sudhakar reported extensively on government apathy, divisive politics, systemic gender discrimination, agrarian crisis and the will to survive great odds. His curiosity for peeking behind the curtain triumphed over the criminal agenda of many scamsters in the highest political and corporate circles, making way for breaking stories such as Panama Papers Scam, Telgi Stamp Paper Scam, and many others. His versatility in reporting extended to red corridors of left-wing extremism where the lives of security forces and the locals in Maoist-affected areas were key points of investigation. His knack for detail provided crucial evidence of involvement from overseas in terrorist bombings in Hyderabad.
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