Who is protecting Vijayasai Reddy in the liquor scam?!
The liquor scam issue has been creating a stir in Andhra Pradesh for the past few days. The SIT has preliminarily concluded that a scam of around ₹3,500 crore has taken place. In this scam, YSRCP former MP Vijayasai Reddy has been listed as Accused No. 5. The SIT has mentioned in its chargesheet that he played a key role not only in framing the liquor policy but also in the handling and transfer of bribe money. It is already known that the SIT recently arrested YSRCP MP Mithun Reddy with allegations that he not only played a crucial role in the formulation of the liquor policy but also diverted part of the bribe money to his companies. This has created ripples within the YSRCP. On the other hand, the SIT has stated that the ultimate beneficiary of the liquor scam money is YSRCP chief and former CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. At present, efforts are underway to establish these links more concretely. It is being said that all these facts will come out in the final chargesheet.
However, another key point here is that Vijayasai Reddy, during his tenure as a YSRCP MP, made many inappropriate remarks against Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. After the coalition government came to power in Andhra Pradesh, he once spoke to the media in Delhi and made offensive statements saying that if Chandrababu is still around when YSRCP returns to power, he’ll see what happens. Earlier, he had alleged that sacred ornaments of Lord Venkateswara were unearthed and taken to Chandrababu’s house, and even claimed that the pink diamond belonging to the Lord was in Chandrababu’s home. Probably, no one criticized Chandrababu as harshly as Vijayasai Reddy. But now, even though the SIT has clearly stated that Vijayasai Reddy played a key role in both policy formulation and bribe money routing in the liquor scam that is shaking Andhra Pradesh, discussions are ongoing within TDP circles about who is protecting him from arrest. There is talk within TDP circles questioning whether BJP leaders are stopping his arrest or whether the coalition leadership has let him go.
Some leaders opine that this does not send a good message to the public. However, some also express the opinion that Vijayasai Reddy may have provided crucial information related to the liquor scam to the SIT, and that this might be another reason why he is being left alone. As part of the investigation into this case, the SIT issued notices for him to appear again. Vijayasai Reddy, however, did not attend the inquiry and instead informed the SIT that he needed more time. To say that Vijayasai Reddy is very busy now is ironic, considering he is not even an MP anymore. Yet, the SIT seems to be giving him as much time as he asks for, which, according to one minister, is sending the wrong signals to the public. The most bizarre thing of all is—how could MPs and outsiders, without the involvement of the then Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy or Minister Narayana Swamy, formulate the most crucial liquor policy of Andhra Pradesh, he questioned.
