TDP leaders are enriching themselves through counterfeit liquor while draining the state treasury and endangering the lives of lakhs of people. The government dismantled state-run liquor shops only to pave the way for a mafia network, allowing a syndicate-driven spurious liquor trade to thrive. Behind Chandrababu Naidu’s false propaganda of “liquor scams” during YSRCP’s rule lies the real strategy: creating space for a counterfeit liquor empire.
Chandrababu’s Liquor Policy: A Cover for the Mafia
Naidu boasts of his new liquor policy, but behind it lurk dangerous realities. By fabricating scams and filing false cases against YSRCP leaders and officials, he dismantled the transparent state-run system and handed liquor sales to private players—his own syndicate. Today, belt shops, permit rooms, and private outlets are controlled by TDP leaders. From production to distribution to sales, the entire chain is in their hands, creating a direct highway for counterfeit liquor to reach consumers while draining state revenues.
Mulakalacheruvu Factory Exposed
This mafia came to light in Mulakalacheruvu, Tamballapalle constituency (Annamayya district), where excise officials raided a massive counterfeit liquor factory linked to TDP leader Katta Surendra Naidu. Shockingly, the alleged ring leader is a senior TDP leader from the same district, reportedly seen alongside Chandrababu himself.
- Operated from a leased dhaba building.
- Local TDP in-charge Jayachandra Reddy and his PA Rajesh were involved.
- Janardhan Rao, closely tied to TDP leaders, acted as the plant manager.
- Seizures: 15,000 counterfeit bottles, 1,000 liters of spirit, and spurious liquor ready for another 10,000 bottles.
- For months, thousands of bottles were supplied daily to belt shops across Rayalaseema, generating crores in black money.
Despite such massive seizures, the government has avoided a deeper probe. No quality checks are being done on liquor shops or belt outlets—because a full inquiry would expose that manufacturers, distributors, and sellers are all part of the TDP network.
Chandrababu’s false allegations vs. CAG Data
Naidu accused YSRCP’s liquor policy of causing losses to the exchequer. In reality, his own policy has caused massive leakage. Despite more shops, belt outlets, and 24×7 sales, revenues have stagnated because counterfeit liquor and mafia trade dominate the system.
CAG Data:
- FY 2024–25 (first 5 months): ₹6,782.21 crore
- FY 2025–26 (first 5 months): ₹6,992.77 crore
This is only 3.10% growth, when even without policy changes, natural growth should have been ~10%. The shortfall proves that TDP’s syndicate is siphoning revenue.
The Big Lie: “30,000 Deaths”
Chandrababu and yellow media spread the lie that 30,000 people died due to spurious liquor during YSRCP’s rule. RTI replies and NCRB data prove otherwise:
- RTI findings (2019–24): Not a single death due to spurious liquor in any of 16 districts. Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva Trust confirmed no liquor-related diseases or Aarogyasri treatments were recorded.
- NCRB Data:
- 2022: 507 spurious liquor cases nationwide, 617 deaths (Bihar 134, Karnataka 96, Punjab 90, etc.) — zero in AP.
- 2023: 456 cases nationwide, 522 deaths (Jharkhand 194, Karnataka 79, etc.) — zero in AP.
Thus, YSRCP’s rule saw no spurious liquor deaths. The “30,000 deaths” claim was fabricated propaganda. In contrast, under the coalition, counterfeit liquor cases are multiplying.
Counterfeit liquor in Chandrababu’s own brands
Adding irony, the counterfeit trade thrives under brands introduced by Chandrababu himself, AC Black, Old Admiral, SPY 999, Sumo, and Kerala Malt. At Mulakalacheruvu, spurious liquor was openly sold under the Kerala Malt brand.
Statewide Mafia Network
Counterfeit liquor rackets are surfacing across Andhra Pradesh, always tracing back to TDP leaders:
- Nellore (Rottela Panduga): Syndicate member Veeranjaneyulu arrested.
- Repalle: A TDP “ring master” leads operations in Nellore, Bapatla, Prakasam.
- North Andhra: Anakapalli hub supplies Alluri Sitaramaraju, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram, Manyam, Srikakulam.
- Godavari Districts: A Palakollu factory supplies East & West Godavari, Eluru, BR Ambedkar, Konaseema, and Kakinada.
Reports suggest two of every three liquor bottles sold in AP are spurious.
Sanitizer Spirit Misuse
During COVID-19, spirit procurement rules were relaxed for sanitizers. Even after the pandemic, TDP leaders misused these relaxations, buying massive stocks of spirit and diverting them into counterfeit liquor plants. Distillery-scale units with machinery, caramel coloring, and fake labels now flood the state with spurious liquor.
Conclusion
The spurious liquor mafia is systematic, statewide, and directly run by TDP leaders.
- It enriches Chandrababu’s syndicate while draining the exchequer.
- It endangers lakhs of lives, especially among SC, ST, and BC communities.
- RTI and NCRB data prove no spurious liquor deaths occurred under YSRCP, exposing TDP’s propaganda.
- Today, under the coalition, belt shops mushroom, counterfeit liquor flows freely, and public health and revenues suffer.
This is the real liquor scam, not under YSRCP, but under Chandrababu Naidu’s mafia syndicate.
