Vijayawada: Former Andhra Pradesh Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Jogi Ramesh was arrested on Sunday in connection with a spurious liquor case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested him from his residence at Ibrahimpatnam in the NTR district. His aide, Arepalli Ramu, was also taken into custody. Following the arrest, Ramesh was moved to the Excise Department office in Vijayawada for questioning.
The arrest follows allegations that Ramesh was linked to an illicit liquor racket that was busted by Andhra Pradesh police last month. Addepalli Janardhana Rao, the prime accused in the case, alleged that the spurious liquor was manufactured under Ramesh's directions. He reportedly claimed that Ramesh promised him ₹3 crore to open a distillery in Africa. Investigators revealed that Janardhana Rao confessed to starting the production of fake liquor in Mulakalacheruvu of the erstwhile Chittoor district, with the help of one J. Jayachandra Reddy, following Ramesh's directions. He also stated that the illicit liquor production was later shifted to Ibrahimpatnam in 2023, while Ramesh was a minister.
According to sources, the arrest followed crucial evidence gathered during the custodial interrogation of Addepalli Janardhana Rao, who had earlier been remanded to SIT custody for a week. Janardhana Rao reportedly revealed that the illegal liquor business had been operating since the YSRCP regime and that Jogi Ramesh had extended support and financial backing for the operations. Janardhana Rao is said to have told investigators that Ramesh had assured him of assistance in the event of losses, promising financial support of up to Rs 3 crore. The SIT also reportedly obtained information suggesting that Ramesh had directed Janardhana Rao to conduct spurious liquor activities in Mulakalacheruvu of Annamayya district.
Media reports indicate that the SIT found that Janardhana Rao met Jogi Ramesh at the latter's residence before his trip to South Africa, and CCTV recordings pertaining to this meeting have been seized. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that the spurious liquor racket was being operated from 2023 when Ramesh was a minister. A massive liquor dump was discovered in Mulakalacheruvu and Ibrahimpatnam last month.
Ramesh's arrest came a day after he filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the spurious liquor case. He requested the High Court to issue orders transferring the investigation of the two FIRs registered at Mulakalacheruvu and Bhavanipuram police stations to the CBI. Ramesh also demanded that the CBI investigate his complaint dated October 15, which he filed after the release of a recorded statement given by Janardhana Rao while in police custody, alleging that the video appears to have been recorded under duress. He alleged that the coalition government is deliberately trying to frame him in the case for political reasons, terming the ongoing investigation by the state police biased and politically influenced. Ramesh argued that only a central agency like the CBI could conduct a fair and impartial probe.
Both the TDP and the YSRCP are blaming each other for the spurious liquor. YSRCP leaders have alleged that TDP leaders were running a huge racket.
