Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant anticipatory bail to Andhra Pradesh former minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao in a case linked to the alleged manipulation of liquor transportation tenders.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohan dismissed Rao’s plea and upheld Telangana high court’s July 3 order rejecting his request for pre-arrest bail.During the hearing, counsel for Rao argued that the former minister had no role in the alleged irregularities and sought protection from arrest, citing his medical condition. The apex court, however, declined to interfere with the high court’s decision.The case pertains to alleged manipulation of tenders awarded for the transportation of liquor for the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited between 2020 and 2024.Investigators are probing whether the tender process was influenced to favour certain entities during the period.Officials said the liquor transportation case is being investigated under a separate Enforcement Case Information Report and is distinct from the main Andhra Pradesh liquor scam case.With the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea, Rao remains without protection from arrest in the ongoing investigation.
