In a sudden development, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) sleuths began a fresh round of raids on liquor syndicates across the state and arrested some persons, according to reports reaching Hyderabad.

The raids, likely to last till Saturday evening, are continuing in the districts of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Nellore, Prakasam, Warangal, Karimnagar and West Godavari.

While the ACB officials have taken into custody a close follower of former MLA Mr Prasannakumar reddy for running a liquor syndicate in Nellore district, the teams have conduced searches on the premises of a close follower of a TDP leader in Guntur district.

The special teams have also raided the houses and other premises of liquor business man Venkat Rao in Ongole and those of Excise CI Mr Guravaiah at Singarayakonda. Reports said the teams have seized cash running into lakhs of rupees from the premises of a liquor syndicate merchant in Nellore town.

The ACB has come to know that Excise Department officials are giving crores of rupees as loans to liquor merchants on high interest rates. The raiding teams had seized documents in this connection at some places. (JUBS)