P V Mudhun Reddy @ Peddireddi Venkata Midhun Reddy vs The State Of Andhra Pradesh

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The petitioner, a Member of Parliament and Accused No. 4, filed a criminal petition seeking pre-arrest bail under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in connection with Crime No. 21 of 2024 registered at the C.I.D. Police Station, Mangalagiri, Guntur District. The case involved allegations of a large-scale liquor scam in Andhra Pradesh spanning 2019 to 2024, wherein the petitioner was alleged to have facilitated excise policy changes favouring select distilleries in exchange for kickbacks, causing losses estimated at over ₹3,500 crores to the State exchequer.

The prosecution alleged that the petitioner was the primary executor and conspirator who orchestrated changes in the APSBCL procurement system, suppressed competitive brands, and enabled preferential allocation of orders to certain distilleries. Kickbacks were allegedly collected in cash and gold bullion through complex financial routes involving shell companies, inflated invoices, fictitious transactions, and entities linked to the petitioner including PLR Projects Pvt. Ltd. Evidence cited included statements of 153 witnesses, financial records of over 100 distilleries, and forensic data.

The offences initially registered under Sections 420, 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 were subsequently supplemented by Sections 7, 7A, 8, 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, added vide Memo dated 22.04.2025. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravathi considered the petition, which also included an Interlocutory Application No. 1 of 2025 filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C. and Section 528 BNSS.

Catchwords: pre-arrest bail · anticipatory bail · liquor scam · Andhra Pradesh · APSBCL · corruption · kickbacks · Prevention of Corruption Act · conspiracy · public servant · excise policy · shell companies · money laundering · Member of Parliament · custodial interrogation · BNSS