Amaravati: Liquor Loot Within the Loot: A Heist on Hidden Hoard
In the tangled web of Andhra Pradesh’s massive liquor policy scandal, a bizarre twist has emerged: Thieves infiltrated a secret stash of bribe money, pocketing Rs 5.8 crore from almirahs tucked away in a Hyderabad hideout. The 2019-2024 scam, already under scrutiny for alleged losses exceeding Rs 3,300 crore, saw illicit gains from distilleries funneled into these dens by key accused. Now, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe traces the stolen cash to properties in Odisha and Hyderabad, recommending their seizure as tainted assets.
This inside job raises a wry irony: In a saga of corruption, can even the corrupt fall prey to sharper opportunists?
The Hidden Dens of Doubt
Accused No. 1 Raj Kesireddy and No. 9 T. Ishwar Kiran Kumar Reddy orchestrated the collection of crores from liquor firms, stashing them in locked almirahs across Hyderabad spots. One such den operated inside the home of Bava Meridi Mohan Kollipuri (A-44), co-run with Simon Prasanna (A-41), where cash flowed in steadily under the guise of routine operations.
The setup aimed for ironclad secrecy, but cracks appeared when personal ties turned predatory. As SIT digs deeper, these revelations peel back layers of a network built on trust and terror.
A Visitor’s Sharp Eye
Mohan, whose brother Anil Kumar nursed a leg injury from Visakhapatnam at the house, hosted Anil’s girlfriend, Rashmita Behura from Cuttack, Odisha. Running salons and spas back home, she arrived to care for him but soon spotted the parade of cash bundles and meticulous storage rituals.
Sensing the fortune’s shady origins, Rashmita calculated a low-risk grab: The handlers, fearing police scrutiny, couldn’t report a theft. She sketched a hasty plan and looped in friend Eershad Ahmed from Cuttack, setting the stage for a daring dawn raid.
Her insight turned observer into orchestrator, a reminder that proximity to power often unmasks its perils.
The Dawn Heist Unfolds
In January 2023, Eershad arrived in Hyderabad, teaming up with local contact Mubarak Ali and three others to form a tight-knit crew. They scoped Mohan’s residence on January 13, noting entry points and routines with clinical precision.
The next morning at 3:30 a.m., Rashmita cracked open the doors, ushering the group inside. They rifled through six almirahs, hauling away Rs 5.8 crore in crisp notes. Initial drop-off at Mubarak’s place saw two almirahs cracked open for a quick split, with the rest handed to Eershad for safekeeping.
What followed was a scramble to vanish the loot, blending it into everyday life far from the crime scene.
Discovery and Desperate Measures
Two days later, Simon and Mohan discovered the void, alerting Ishwar Kiran Kumar Reddy. CCTV footage fingered Rashmita, who had already fled to Odisha. Leveraging influence, they filed a case there, but leads dried up fast.
Frustrated, the duo liquidated gold holdings and sold assets to recoup losses, a frantic bid to plug the hole without drawing wider eyes. This scramble only deepened the web, as every move left fresh trails for investigators.
SIT’s Pursuit of the Proceeds
SIT officers, grilling Mohan and Anil Kumar in recent days, extracted the full account from Anil under oath before a magistrate. Armed with details, teams swooped into Odisha and Hyderabad, detaining Rashmita, Eershad, and Mubarak for questioning.
Probes confirmed the trio funneled the haul into multiple properties, all traced back to the liquor bribes. With clear links established, SIT forwarded proposals for attachment, ensuring the stolen funds circle back to the state’s coffers.
This recovery effort underscores a core probe tenet: No matter how it’s moved, illicit money leaves fingerprints.
Echoes of a Larger Scandal
The broader investigation, probing over Rs 3,300 crore in alleged kickbacks during the YSRCP regime, has already netted arrests and ED parallel probes. From shell firms to media ties, the scandal sprawls across states, with 90 percent of bribes reportedly funneled upward.
Yet this heist subplot humanizes the fallout: Greed’s chain reacts, ensnaring even those who thought they held the keys.