Rs 3,500 Crore Liquor Scam Involves Money Laundering via Employee Couriers, Multiple Arrests Made

A chargesheet filed by Andhra Pradesh police in a local court alleges that kickbacks from a Rs 3,500-crore liquor scam were systematically laundered through low-profile employees acting as couriers and mules to deposit illicit cash into a network of bank accounts. The Special Investigation Team found that these individuals facilitated structured money laundering by layering and circulating cash to conceal its criminal origin. Some employees received portions of the kickbacks as salary and were instructed to transfer funds to other accused persons. Several arrests have been made, including a member of parliament. The Enforcement Directorate has also initiated a money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act related to irregularities in liquor sales. The chargesheet referenced substantial monthly kickbacks allegedly received by a former chief minister but did not formally accuse him. A senior political leader denied all allegations as baseless.