K Dhananjaya Reddy Vs State of Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Pradesh High Court)
The Andhra Pradesh High Court considered three anticipatory bail petitions filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, by different accused persons in connection with Crime No. 21 of 2024 registered by the CID Police Station, Mangalagiri. The crime involved allegations under Sections 409, 420 and 120-B read with Sections 34 and 37 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, along with Sections 7, 7A, 8, 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
Read SC Judgment in this case: SC Refuses Anticipatory Bail in ₹3,200 Crore Liquor Scam as Investigation was at a Crucial Stage
The prosecution case originated from a report dated 23.09.2024 submitted by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh concerning alleged irregularities and corruption in the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) between October 2019 and March 2024. An internal committee identified several irregularities, including suppression of established liquor brands, preferential allocation of supply orders to selected brands, and replacement of an automated procurement system with a manual process that allegedly enabled manipulation. Since the committee could not determine the motive behind these practices, it recommended investigation by a specialized agency.
