In a fiery speech in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced a comprehensive investigation by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) into the alleged irregularities in liquor sales during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government’s tenure.
“The people of Andhra Pradesh have suffered a loss of Rs 18,860.51 crore due to the flawed liquor policy implemented by the YSRCP,” Mr. Naidu said, waving a copy of the “White Paper” he released in the Assembly.
“We will not let this go unpunished. The CID will get to the bottom of this liquor scam,” Chandrababu Naidu said.
Mr. Naidu said that the YSRCP government had promised to implement alcohol prohibition in a phased manner but instead increased liquor prices by a whopping 75%, ostensibly to discourage consumption. However, this had the opposite effect, with per capita liquor consumption rising from 5.55 liters in 2019-20 to 6.23 liters in 2023-24.
“This is not just a financial scam, but also a health scam,” Mr. Naidu said, pointing out that the number of deaths due to alcohol addiction in Andhra Pradesh had increased by 100% in the last five years, and charged that the previous government had blood on its hands.
The Chief Minister also alleged that the YSRCP had monopolized the liquor business, discontinuing the procurement of popular liquor brands available nationwide and instead promoting low-quality brands manufactured by party leaders at inflated prices. “Digital payments were only allowed in the last quarter of 2023-24,” he added.
Mr. Naidu said the CID investigation will be followed by a revamp of the state’s excise department and a new excise policy and that the government would bring transparency and accountability to the liquor trade and ensure that the people of Andhra Pradesh are not cheated again.