Ex-collector arrested in liquor case

HYDERABAD: The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested retired Khammam district collector N Nageshwar Rao and 11 othes on Tuesday on charges of involvement in liquor trade irregularities.
All the accused were produced before the ACB court magistrate and remanded in judicial custody till May 8.
According to ACB officials, they registered a case on March 2 against the retired collector who processed the files and allegedly manipulated records.
Four excise officials, including a deputy commissioner, were arrested on March 4.
Nageshwar Rao, the then collector and district magistrate, finalised the tender pertaining to wine shop G.Sl.
No.1 in favour of Inturi Shekar Rao and his name was declared as successful bidder.
In the case of other shops, joint collector MA Azeem signed in the confirmation register.
Subsequently, Chekuri Srinivasa Rao, licence-holder of G.S.I No.8, lodged a complaint with the collector and joint collector about high-handness and atrocities of syndicate leader Nunna Venkata Ramana and Peddini Anjaiah and about inclusion of the name of Anjaiah subsequently without his consent.
The Revenue divisional officer, in his report, established several manipulations and fabrications of the records and inclusion of a person other than the successful bidder in respect of 16 wine shops and recommended criminal action.
Nageshwar Rao, the then collector, having got the report from RDO kept quiet without taking any action in accordance with the AP Excise Act, 1968 and enabled the accused to continue to have control over the business of 16 shops,’’ the ACB chief said.

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