Supreme Court Extends Interim Protection to Three Accused in Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam

The Supreme Court on January 21 extended interim protection from arrest to three accused in the alleged Rs 3,500 crore Andhra Pradesh liquor scam, who were directed by the High Court to surrender after their default bail was cancelled. The accused include former IAS officer K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, ex-OSD Pellakuru Krishna Mohan Reddy, and Balaji Govindappa, a Bharati Cements director. The prosecution alleges a political-business nexus involving manipulation of liquor procurement and kickbacks between 2019 and 2024. The Court asked the accused to seek regular bail from the trial court.