Former Minister Jogi Ramesh has emerged as the prime accused in an illegal liquor racket linked to manufacturing and distribution across Annamayya (Mulakalacheruvu), Chittoor (Tamballapalle), and NTR (Ibrahimpatnam) districts.
Evidence now points toward Jogi Ramesh’s involvement. Initially, the YSR Congress Party tried to shift the blame to the TDP after one of the accused turned out to be a TDP leader. The party quickly suspended him.
Later, the same accused stated that Jogi Ramesh had offered him ₹3 crore to set up the illegal liquor operation. WhatsApp chats and photographs showing the Minister with the accused have also surfaced, further strengthening the allegations.
With this, YSR Congress has found itself on the defensive, and Jogi Ramesh’s arrest seems increasingly likely.
Recently, Jogi Ramesh addressed the media, claiming innocence. He offered to take an oath at Tirupati or any temple in Andhra Pradesh to prove he had no role in the case. He also challenged the Chandrababu Naidu government to conduct a lie-detector test on him.
“False cases are being fabricated against me with the intent to jail me at any cost,” he alleged. He repeated the same stance during a live show on TV9.
Interestingly, both the press meet and the TV9 show took place in Hyderabad, a known stronghold of YSR Congress friendly media.
In reality, such temple oaths or public promises carry no legal weight. If Jogi Ramesh truly wants to prove his innocence, he must appear before the authorities in Andhra Pradesh and follow due legal procedure.
The government is not obliged to entertain symbolic gestures like temple visits or public vows. These statements might once have had political value, but today, even the public no longer takes them seriously.
As for lie-detector tests, only a court can order them not the government. For that to happen, Jogi Ramesh must return to Andhra Pradesh and cooperate with the investigation.
