The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has so far registered 25 criminal cases against those involved in the liquor syndicate case based on the scrutiny reports on the data gathered from searches in syndicate offices across the state. A ACB press release here today said 24 criminal cases had been booked on January 25, 2012 and another on March 2, 2012 and seized files after conducting searches at many places. The ACB had also arrested four officials of the excise department–A V Narasimha Rao, the then Dy.Commissioner, K Madhusudhan Rao, Excise Superintendent, Khammam, M Shankariah, Prohibition and Excise Superintendent and D S Nath, Inspector Prohibiton and Excise Department, Khammam on the charges of processing the files and playing an active role in handing over control of business of 16 liquor shops to the syndicate led by Nunna Venkatas Remana.
The accused were produced before the court for remanding them to Judicial custody, the release said and added Ramana, learnt to be the liquor syndicate dealer having ownership in benami names in 29 wine shops in Khammam district and influenced over 80 wine shops in Khammam and Warangal Districts. The liquor syndicate issue had rocked Andhra Pradesh Assembly and the Council since the commencement of budget session on February 13 and the Congress government had also made a statement in the Assembly on the issue.