Delhi Excise Case: Approver’s Father, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, Gets NDA Ticket (image-X/MaguntaRaghava)Former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) member Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, whose son Raghava Magunta Reddy is an accused-turned-approver in the Delhi liquor case, has recently secured a Lok Sabha ticket from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a BJP ally in Andhra Pradesh. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi liquor scam on March 21.
Srinivasulu, a four-time MP from Ongole, has been at the centre of attention as both he and his son were actively campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, as per reports. Both Srinivasulu Reddy and Raghava Magunta Reddy joined Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP on February 28. The TDP is an ally of the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, along with Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party.
Raghava Magunta Reddy, who was arrested in February 2023 in connection with the excise policy case, was granted bail in October 2023 after agreeing to cooperate as an approver in the ongoing investigation.
The Magunta family, with their long-standing presence in the liquor business through entities like Balaji Distilleries, found themselves entangled in allegations of bribery and kickbacks. Reports suggest that Srinivasulu Reddy was part of an alleged group dubbed the ‘South Group’, accused of paying a substantial kickback of Rs 100 crore to Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on July 14, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) quoted Srinivasulu Reddy’s statement, in which he allegedly confessed to exploring business opportunities in Delhi’s liquor sector. The agency alleged that he paid Rs 25 crore through K. Kavitha, an associate allegedly acting on behalf of Kejriwal’s party.
According to ED’s prosecution complaint, Srinivasulu Reddy met Kejriwal on March 16, 2021, to discuss business prospects. Kejriwal mentioned that K. Kavitha, the Telangana leader, was already in touch with him regarding potential opportunities. Subsequently, Kavitha allegedly told him that the Delhi CM had asked her to give Rs 100 crore. She then asked Reddy to arrange Rs 50 crore. Raghava Reddy purportedly said that he paid Rs 25 crore in cash to associates of Kavitha following the “agreement” between himself, his father, and Kavitha.
While Srinivasulu Reddy’s version suggests a financial transaction for business opportunities, Kejriwal countered this narrative in court on Thursday, claiming that the MP approached him seeking help for land acquisition for his family trust in Delhi. The AAP chief presented a brief timeline of the case and mentioned the names of people involved in the case, which included the father-son duo as well.
Arvind Kejriwal is currently in Enforcement Directorate custody, extended until April 1, and investigations are ongoing.