The Anti-Corruption Bureau has pegged the state-wide liquor scandal at Rs 15,000 crore. Stating the same before the ACB court on Wednesday, the bureau’s counsel, Mr Shyam Sundar, pointed out the enormity of the case while opposing bail to five persons who were arrested by ACB earlier this month. His remarks, however, were not based on ACB figures, but newspaper reports.

“There was active connivance between liquor syndicates, officials and politicians. The syndicates bribed officials and caused huge losses to the exchequer by selling Non-Duty Paid Liquor. Investigation into bribes paid to officials is in progress and the same won’t come to light if the accused are released on bail as there is every possibility that they will tamper with evidence,” the prosecution submitted to the court.

The accused, Mr Dayakar Reddy, Mr Raghava Reddy, Mr Ravi Kumar Goud, Mr Shankar Reddy and Mr Virupakasha Reddy, all members of a liquor syndicate in Kurnool, had been arrested by the ACB in Yemmiganur in the first week of February. After hearing the arguments of both sides, the court dismissed the bail petitions. Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the High Court requesting for its supervision in monitoring the Excise cases being investigated by the ACB.