Amaravati: The SIT has concluded that YSRCP leader and former minister Jogi Ramesh was behind the sensational spurious liquor manufacturing units discovered in Mulakalacheruvu and Ibrahimpatnam. According to the SIT, Ramesh lured the main accused, Addapalli Janardhana Rao, with the promise of ₹3 crore, used him as a pawn, and orchestrated the entire criminal conspiracy.
The investigation revealed that the purpose of this spurious liquor racket was to falsely implicate and defame the Naidu government. The SIT stated that Jogi Ramesh himself leaked information about these illegal liquor units to excise officials, ensuring raids.
These details were outlined in a recently filed 55-page preliminary charge sheet. The SIT has filed charges against eight accused. It also states that the fake liquor scam caused a loss of ₹9 crore to the state treasury.
Relationship between the former minister and the main accused:
The families of Jogi Ramesh and Addapalli Janardhana Rao lived in the same area in Ibrahimpatnam since childhood. They had a very close relationship. Jogi Ramesh and his brother Jogi Ramu were partners in ‘Swarna Bar’ between 2006 and 2019. In 2019, it was renamed ‘Cherries Bar’.
With the support of these two brothers, Janardhana Rao purchased ‘Balaji Bar’ in 2013. Later, he renamed it ‘ANR Restaurant & Bar’. In 2017, all the bar owners in Ibrahimpatnam formed a syndicate, in which Jogi Ramesh and Ramu played key roles. This syndicate continued until the 2019 elections.
How the Liquor ‘Game’ Began:
When Jogi Ramesh was a minister in the YSRCP government, with his support, Janardhan Rao set up a counterfeit liquor manufacturing unit in the old ANR Bar in Ibrahimpatnam. Janardhan Rao and his brother Jaganmohan Rao would pay Jogi Ramesh and his brother Jogi Ramu 3-5 lakh rupees every two to three months.
These payments were made to ensure political patronage and prevent raids by authorities. After the coalition government came to power in Andhra Pradesh and increased surveillance, Janardhan Rao stopped producing counterfeit liquor.
Jogi Ramesh Sent to Africa:
Addepalli Janardhan Rao’s engineering classmate, Jayachandra Reddy, contested the recent elections from Tambalapalli, and Janardhan Rao participated in his election campaign. Jogi Ramesh was aware of this.
After the coalition government came to power, in an attempt to hatch a conspiracy and tarnish the government’s image, Jogi Ramesh set up a counterfeit liquor unit in Mulakalacheruvu, Tambalapalle constituency, before Janardhan Rao. When the stock was ready, he ensured a raid was conducted.
On September 15 and 16, Jogi Ramesh and Ramu contacted Janardhan Rao and asked where Jayachandra Reddy was. When Janardhan Rao told them he was in Africa, they instructed Janardhan Rao to leave for the same country.
On September 23, at 8:30 a.m., Janardhan Rao met Jogi Ramesh at his home. Ramesh lured him with the promise of ₹3 crore (30 million rupees). Janardhan Rao left for Africa on September 24. A few days later, Ramesh leaked information about the Mulakalacheruvu counterfeit liquor unit.
Launched a malicious campaign against the government. When he failed to generate public outrage, he provided information about a counterfeit unit in Ibrahimpatnam and ensured a raid there as well.
Charges against 8 people:
The SIT has filed charges against Addapalli Janardhana Rao, Addapalli Jaganmohan Rao, and others who supplied the raw materials and were involved in the crime. These individuals are Nakirkanti Ravi, Badal Das, Pradeep Das, Dondeti Srinivas Reddy, Angaluru Venkat Kalyan, and Tirumalasetti Srinivas Rao.
