Ex-YSRCP minister’s phone sent to forensic examination

Vijayawada: The investigation into Andhra Pradesh's alleged liquor scam witnessed a major development on Friday after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court granted permission to send the mobile phone of former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) minister Narayanaswamy for forensic examination. Following the court's orders, the special investigation team (SIT) officials forwarded the seized device to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis.Narayanaswamy, who served as the excise minister during the YSRCP govt, was recently questioned by SIT officials in connection with the case. His mobile phone was seized during the probe. Investigators are expected to scrutinise the digital evidence to establish the extent of his alleged involvement and to trace communications ‘linked' to the case.Meanwhile, the ACB court extended the judicial remand of the accused in the liquor ‘scam' until Sept 18. With the remand period coming to an end on Friday, SIT officials produced the accused before the court. Among those presented were individuals lodged in different prisons across the state. From Vijayawada jail, Raj Kasireddy, Sajjala Sridhar Reddy, Booneti Chanakya, Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and Venkatesh Naidu were brought in. From Guntur jail, the accused included Naveen and Balaji Kumar, while Mithun Reddy was produced from Rajahmundry jail.In addition to those in custody, some accused, who are out on bail, also appeared before the court for the proceedings. These included Paila Dileep, who is on regular bail, as well as Dhanunjaya Reddy, Krishnamohan Reddy, and Balaji Govindappa, who are currently out on bail. Dhanunjaya Reddy and Govindappa, however, filed absent petitions, while the remaining accused were present in court.