SIT Finds Ex-Minister Jogi Ramesh Helped Main Accused in Spurious Liquor Case

Vijayawada:In the spurious liquor case, the special investigation team has come up with evidence to show former minister Jogi Ramesh and his brother Jogi Ramu colluded with main accused Addepalli Janardhan Rao and his brother Jagan Mohan Rao.

The first two accused jointly organised, financed and supervised the manufacture of spurious liquor at Ibrahimpatnam and Mulakacheruvu with active support from the minister and his brother Jogi Ramu, the charge sheet the SIT submitted in a local court on Tuesday stated.

The SIT noted that the duo established the operational network by engaging Balaji (A-3), the chief supplier of spirit, essence, caramel, holographic excise adhesive labels, additives along with blending formulas and technical support.

The charge sheet mentioned 25 accused in the case.

For the counterfeit branding, the first two accused took support from Nakirikanti Ravi (A-4) who coordinated with designers and printers including Tirumalasetti Srinivasa Rao (A-13) and Thalari Rangaiah (A-14), Thandra Ramesh Babu (A-15), Shaik Alla Baksh (A-16) and Chekka Satish Kumar (A-17). They placed a key role in designing, printing, supplying or transporting fake labels and packaging material.

Accused Badal Das (A-7), Pradeep Das (A-8), Mithun Das (A-9) and Anta Das (A-10) assisted in blending, filing, sealing, loading, unloading and shifting illicit stock between units and godowns.

Dondenti Srinivasa Reddy (A-11) facilitated the supply of packaging materials and provided PET bottles with knowledge of their illegal use while Daraboina Prasad (A-23) supplied fake bottle caps and CP.

Senthil (A-22) supplied old Admiral Brandy and other bottles used for repacking the spurious liquor. The distribution of the illicit liquor into the market was carried out through retail outlets controlled by Angaluru Venkata Kalyan (A-12), who sold large quantities of off-record and assisted in destruction. of stock at the instructions from A-1.

Moreover, the conspiracy was sustained and protected by Jogi Ramesh (A-18) and Jogi Ramu (A-19) who maintained long-standing social and business relations with A-1 and A-2 and provided political cover, facilitated shifting of materials, intervened when enforcement pressure mounted and directed the accused on various operational decisions.

The SIT noted that the cumulative conduct of all the accused demonstrated a tightly interlinked criminal syndicate wherein each member performed a defined role to extend support in terms of technical, logistical, labour, financial, supply-chain, packaging, distribution, or protection to enable the manufacture, concealment,movement and sale of spurious liquor and non-duty paid liquor on a large scale.

The charge sheet mentioned that A-1 and A-2 maintained a long-standing personal and social acquaintance with Jogi Ramesh (A-18) and his brother Jogi Ramu (A-19) as all of them belonged to the same locality in Ibrahimpatnam.

The father of A-1 and A-2 has been operating a Kirana shop for several decades. With this, the family members of A-18 and A-19 became regular customers. At the advice of Jogi Ramesh and his brother Jogi Ramu, a liquor-trade syndicate was formed at Ibrahimpatnam.

By dint of being influential persons in the local liquor business, they encouraged the owners of bars and wine shops in the area to join hands and operate together, so as to minimise competition and increase profits. With this, several establishments became part of the syndicate, the charge sheet said.