CID to probe leaders

According to information, call data of the second rung leaders arrested for distributing the liquor and their political bosses is being verified to ascertain the role of the latter.

“We are not going to spare whoever the leaders are, whether they belong to opposition or ruling party. Comprehensive probe is being conducted to establish the role of everyone involved to expose them and prevent reoccurrence of liquor distribution during future elections,” a senior official in CID said.

The AP government had ordered CID to take over the spurious liquor cases from excise department in order to know the source of cheap liquor and catch the main bootleggers.

CID took over 32 cases from the excise wing and launched investigation in July this year. The investigation revealed that the non-duty paid liquor originated from Goa and transported through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and, Pondicherry into AP state by interstate bootleggers of the three southern states.

CID recently nabbed main accused Rajendra Nirmal Kumar, 49, of Bengaluru apart from an excise inspector E. Vijayakumar, 50, and a retired excise head constable G.Sankaraiah and one B. Srinivasulu Reddy of Rayachoti in Kadapa district.

The last three helped the interstate bootleggers to transport illicit liquor during elections in AP.

According to sources in CID, the bootleggers booked liquor cartons with regular transport firms with fake waybills. The excise inspector and retired head constable kept a track of their movement and alerted them about raids or checkings. Meanwhile, sleuths investigating the cases identified a few more accused involved in the liquor distribution and they will be arrested soon.