Sat May 17 08:16:10 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The Andhra Pradesh opposition leaders, Botcha Satyanarayana and G. Srikanth Reddy, have strongly condemned the arrest of retired IAS officer K. Dhanunjaya Reddy and another individual in connection with an alleged liquor scam. They accuse Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of political vendetta, claiming the arrests are baseless and intended to divert attention from the current government’s shortcomings. They highlight that the current government is sourcing liquor from the same distilleries previously implicated in the alleged scam during the YSR Congress Party’s tenure.
**News Article:**
**Andhra Pradesh Opposition Condemns Arrests in Liquor Scam, Accuses CM of Political Vendetta**
**Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh – May 17, 2025** – The arrest of retired IAS officer K. Dhanunjaya Reddy in connection with a liquor scam has sparked outrage from opposition leaders in Andhra Pradesh. Botcha Satyanarayana, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, and former government whip G. Srikanth Reddy have denounced the arrest as an act of political vengeance orchestrated by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
“Chief Minister Naidu is resorting to vindictive politics,” stated Mr. Satyanarayana in a press statement. “False cases are being booked, and evidence is being fabricated to target retired and even in-service government officials.”
Mr. Satyanarayana alleges that the current government is intimidating individuals to coerce statements and that there is no credible evidence to support the charges in the alleged liquor scam. He further pointed out the alleged hypocrisy of the current government sourcing liquor from the same distilleries that were under scrutiny during the previous YSR Congress Party administration.
G. Srikanth Reddy echoed these sentiments, asserting that the arrests are a deliberate attempt to divert public attention from the coalition government’s failures. “This political witch-hunt is not good for the State,” he declared.
The opposition’s strong condemnation highlights the escalating political tensions in Andhra Pradesh as the coalition government faces scrutiny over its handling of the liquor industry and other issues. The future of the liquor scam investigation remains uncertain amid these accusations of political interference.