Metro India News | AMARAVATI

A special ACB court in Vijayawada on Wednesday remanded Raj Kesireddy (Kesireddy Rajashekhar Reddy), the main accused in the liquor scam case, to judicial custody for 14 days. The order to this effect was issued by magistrate Bhaskara Rao at around 12:30 pm on Tuesday night. Later, the police shifted Kesireddy to the district jail in Vijayawada. Advocate General (AG) Dammalapati Srinivas and Public Prosecutor Kalyani presented their arguments on behalf of CID. The AG argued that since Kesireddy was not a government employee there was no need to take permission under section 17(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act to interrogate him. 

The AG alleged being an IT advisor in the previous YSRCP government, Kesireddy influenced the officials of beverages corporation to formulate the liquor policy such that commissions Rs 50-60 crores per month have been collected in five years. On the other hand, senior advocate Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy appeared on behalf of the accused. He argued that the original SIT formation was not legal and the ACB court had no jurisdiction to impose remand. He also argued that the arrest memo given to Kesireddy Reddy on Monday did not contain sections of the PC Act and they were included in the latest remand report. 

Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy said the PC Act was not applicable Kesireddy he was not a government employee and so the remand should be rejected. Judge Bhaskara Rao, who heard the arguments of both the parties, spoke to the accused Kesireddy. He was asked whether the reasons for the arrest were explained, if notices were issued and if there were any health issues. Subsequently, considering all the factors, an order was issued to 14-day judicial custody of Raj Kesireddy till May 6.