Son turns approver in Delhi liquor policy case, father gets LS ticket from BJP ally
text_fields
In a political twist ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, a figure in Andhra Pradesh politics and father of Raghav Magunta, who turned approver in the Delhi liquor policy case, has secured a ticket from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reported The Indian Express.
Raghav Magunta found himself embroiled in legal proceedings related to the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the liquor policy case. On October 3, he was granted pardon and became an approver, a decision later reinforced by a Delhi court on February 29.
Both father and son, previously affiliated with the YSR Congress Party, made a switch to the TDP on February 28, signalling a significant political move. Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, a four-time MP from Ongole, has once again clinched a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election from the same constituency.
The political landscape was further charged when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal referenced the duo during a court appearance, suggesting that the elder Reddy had made statements against him under coercion following his son's arrest in February 2023. Kejriwal underscored the swift transformation of events as Raghav Magunta obtained bail upon agreeing to cooperate with authorities as an approver in October.
These developments come against the backdrop of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to take place simultaneously on May 13. With the TDP unveiling its candidates for both elections, including Reddy for the Lok Sabha seat, the political arena is set for heightened competition.
The Delhi liquor policy case itself has been a focal point of controversy, with allegations of irregularities and corruption levelled against the Aam Aadmi Party government. The Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation have pursued investigations, claiming modifications to the liquor excise policy aimed at securing disproportionate profits for wholesalers and retailers.
Moreover, the involvement of a "South Group" purportedly funnelling significant sums as kickbacks to AAP leaders through businessman Vijay Nair adds another layer of complexity to the case, which has drawn national attention.