JOIN USThe Ruling Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh has decided to re-investigate all the liquor syndicate cases involving former Congress ministers, which caused the state exchequer thousands of crores in lost revenue.
The cabinet sub-committee on corruption has endorsed the move to set up fast-track courts for speedy trials in the cases and punish the guilty.
Speaking to the press after a marathon meeting with the chairman of the subcommittee and finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, state Information and Public relations minister Palle Raghunath Reddy said the sub-committee has decided to re-investigate the liquor cases in war footing and reassess the losses to the exchequer.
The minister expressed the widely held suspicions that former APCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and others like Dharmana Krishna Das from Vizianagaram are involved in the scam.
The government also decided to re-investigate the Vanpic and Lepakshi land grants made by the previous Congress government. Of the 22,990 acres allocated to Vanpic, about 798 acres are still with the company.
Answering a question on the botched Lepakshi project in Anantapur district, the minister said that the company has raised Rs 870 crore by pledging 4396 acres out of the allocated 8844 acres which is used for other projects. He said the government has decided to cancel the sale deed. Blaming the previous government for the spurt in Red sanders smuggling, he said that the sub committee recommended a legislation to impose 3 to 10 years imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh penalty to put an end to smuggling.