Former Andhra Pradesh minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao has been arrested in connection with the alleged liquor transportation scam in the state.
His arrest comes nearly a month after the Supreme Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the tender process for liquor transportation under the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited between 2020 and 2024.
YSR Congress leaders have strongly criticised the arrest and described it as political vendetta by the TDP-led coalition government.
Former ministers Chelluboyina Venugopala Krishna, Anil Kumar Yadav and Vidadala Rajini issued a joint statement alleging that false cases were being filed to target YSRCP leaders.
They said Karumuri, a senior party leader, was being unfairly targeted and pointed out that his son Sunil had also been arrested earlier.
According to them, the entire family is being deliberately targeted as part of a political campaign.
The YSRCP leaders also defended the liquor policy followed during their government.
They claimed that liquor procurement and sales were handled transparently, illegal liquor was controlled, the number of liquor shops was reduced and retail outlets were operated by the government.
They also said permit rooms and belt shops were abolished during the YSRCP regime.
The investigation into the alleged liquor transportation tender irregularities is continuing.
