Kollu Alleges Spurious Liquor Scam Under YSRC Rule
Thousands of vehicles were seized during the crackdown, often hitting poor vehicle owners.
Vijayawada:Launching a blistering attack on the previous YSRC regime, excise minister Kollu Ravindra on Friday alleged that the department was turned into a “centre of plunder” between 2019 and 2024, with spurious liquor pushed onto people to fatten political coffers.
Replying to a question by Mylavaram MLA Vasantha Venkata Krishna Prasad in the assembly, the minister said the then government, led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, came to power promising total prohibition but instead encouraged a dubious liquor policy that allegedly generated commissions of `250 per liquor case and `150 per beer case.
The minister claimed that reputed brands were driven out, prices were hiked steeply, and government-run outlets promoted select brands, triggering a surge in non-duty-paid liquor (NDPL) smuggling from neighbouring states. Thousands of vehicles were seized during the crackdown, often hitting poor vehicle owners.
Ravindra said inferior liquor led to tragedies such as the hooch deaths in Jangareddygudem, where 22 youth lost their lives, while many others suffer kidney and liver ailments. He alleged a liquor scam of over `3,500 crore during the five years, observations on which were also noted by the Supreme Court during bail hearings.
After the coalition assumed office, the minister said, a new liquor policy was introduced, restoring old brands, ensuring quality checks through 13-stage testing, and implementing a track-and-trace system from the distillery to the retail shop. Prices were aligned with neighbouring states, reducing NDPL smuggling and boosting border district sales. Through the “Navodayam 2.0” programme, illicit country liquor was eradicated, he added.
Between June 1, 2019, and June 30, 2024, 29 spurious liquor cases were registered, 191 persons arrested, 9,055 litres of spurious liquor and 2,465 litres of spirit seized, along with 34 vehicles. In 31,057 NDPL cases, 5,81,963 litres of liquor and 10,239 vehicles were seized.
From June 2019 to January 2026, 26,846 vehicles were seized; 4,358 were released, 18,047 auctioned, and 4,441 will be released shortly, the minister added.
