HYDERABAD(India), Jan28, 2012: For the second time in a month, officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday conducted simultaneous raids on several liquor syndicates in various cities including Guntur, Nellore, Warangal, Karimnagar, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam.The raids were carried out at offices and residences of liquor traders, Excise Department officials and others suspected to be part of the liquor mafia which has come to virtually control the entire retail trade in the state. The officials seized several records and other incriminating material during the raids, sources said. The raids were conducted on the basis of information collected during the raid last month, when the officials are reported to have seized several documents and other evidences establishing the nexus between politicians, cops, excise officials and liquor traders. The powerful syndicates have been selling liquor at a rate much higher than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) mainly due to the political patronage they enjoy. Reports have it that scores of lawmakers and top cops besides some journalists and Excise Department officials are hand-in-glove with the syndicates. The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), seizing the opportunity to nail the government, alleged that ruling party leaders including some ministers were involved with the liquor syndicates. The party has also demanded of the government to disclose the identities of politicians and other big-wigs whose names allegedly figure in the documents seized by ACB officials during the raids. Though the Kiran Kumar Reddy government has not come out with any details of last month’s raids despite persistent demands by the opposition, Transport Minister and State Congress unit chief Botsa Satyanarayana denied allegations of his or his families involvement with the liquor syndicates.
