ED tracks liquor scam cash trail through schoolmates, dry fruit stores | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Job offers made to two schoolmates, a dry fruit business allegedly used to generate cash, and bank accounts belonging to relatives and acquaintances have figured prominently in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into the Andhra Pradesh liquor transportation scam.In its supplementary prosecution complaint filed on Oct 17, the ED alleged that funds linked to transportation contracts were routed through shell firms and personal accounts before being converted into cash and handed over to beneficiaries.Schoolmates named as partnersAccording to ED, RK Shipping & Logistics was set up in the names of two individuals after their schoolmate, Shaik Saif Ahamed, allegedly promised them better employment opportunities in 2021. The ED said Ahamed told them that T Eswar Kiran Kumar Reddy, director of TEKKR Exports & Imports Pvt Ltd, required namesake partners to create firms for routing funds.The two individuals provided their Aadhaar and PAN details and signed the necessary documents but later claimed they neither secured jobs nor participated in the firm’s operations. During the SIT probe, they allegedly learnt that cash transactions worth ₹1.46 crore had passed through the company. ED concluded that RK Shipping & Logistics carried out no genuine business activity.Dry fruit biz under scannerThe ED also flagged Natural Store, a six-outlet dry fruit and organic products chain run by Kondamadugula Sudhakar Reddy, as an alleged conduit for cash conversion. Reddy, who was acquainted with Kiran Kumar, stated that ₹17.82 lakh received from Sigma Supply Chain Solutions Pvt Ltd related to an arrangement involving three outlets. However, ED said he failed to furnish supporting documents.The agency further said that Reddy reported receiving nearly ₹30 lakh from BVR Infra as loan repayment and ₹8.85 lakh from TEKKR Agri Organic towards dry-fruit supplies. He also admitted to handing over ₹26 lakh in cash to Munnangi Siva Nagi Reddy against banking transactions, purportedly for vendor payments.Another firm, Casta Pink, allegedly received ₹4.29 crore from Sigma Supply Chain Solutions and ₹41.47 lakh from Arroyo Services without rendering any genuine services. Its nominal proprietor, Deenbandhu Kumar, told investigators that the funds were routed through multiple entities and later converted into cash after deducting commissions. According to ED, the cash was ultimately delivered to Kiran Kumar in Hyderabad through intermediaries.Relatives’ accounts usedThe ED further alleged that Mohammed Sehon Pasha, an alleged associate, routed ₹1.11 crore through his own bank accounts and those of relatives and acquaintances. Of this, ₹57.52 lakh was allegedly withdrawn and handed over to Kiran Kumar, while ₹8 lakh was transferred to TEKKR Technology Pvt Ltd. The agency said the remaining ₹45.68 lakh stayed with Pasha.Several account holders told the investigators that Pasha controlled the transactions and that they were unaware of the source or purpose of the funds. ED alleged that these accounts were used to route transportation-related payments and kickbacks as part of the larger money trail under investigation.