# ED arrests ex-AP minister Karumuri in Rs 195-crore liquor scam

2026-08-24T00:24:14+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested former Andhra Pradesh minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao from his Hyderabad home in connection with a Rs 195-crore liquor transportation scam. He was taken to Gandhi Hospital for a medical check-up before questioning. The ED alleges Rao took a Rs 28-crore bribe from liquor traders and manipulated tenders for the AP State Beverages Corporation between 2020 and 2024. Both the Telangana High Court and the Supreme Court had rejected his anticipatory bail petitions before the arrest. His son Sunil was arrested earlier on charges of receiving Rs 15 crore in kickbacks. YSR Congress Party leaders have called the arrest political vendetta by the TDP-led coalition government and defended their liquor policy, claiming it was transparent. The ED investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act continues.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Greatandhra.com leads with the YSRCP’s political-vendetta accusation, framing the arrest as a partisan attack. Deccan Chronicle leads with the ED’s medical check-up and the Rs 195-crore scam figure, sticking to agency facts. The critical omission from Greatandhra is the bribe amount and ED’s detailed evidence of inflated transport rates. The middle-ground verdict: the legal process is running its course after bail denials by two courts. Watch the ED’s money-laundering chargesheet and whether more YSRCP figures are named as beneficiaries of the Rs 28-crore alleged kickback.

## Coverage

Coverage: 2 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
- greatandhra.com (government critical) <https://www.greatandhra.com/politics/andhra-news/karumuri-arrest-sparks-fresh-ysrcp-vs-tdp-war/>
  Leads with YSRCP's political vendetta claim, omits ED's bribe figures
- deccanchronicle.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanchronicle.com/southern-states/telangana/ed-takes-ex-minister-nageswara-rao-to-gandhi-hospital-for-medical-check-up-1981743>
  Leads with ED action and medical check-up, reports scam specifics

This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-24T07:49:52+00:00.

Tags: Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao, Supreme Court, Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress Party
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Cite: https://indianopinion.org/former-andhra-minister-karumuri-arrested-in-liquor-scam-case/#story-in-brief

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