In a flip-flop, liquor syndicate leader of the Khammam district Mr Nunna Ramana told the Nampally criminal court in Hyderabad today ACB had forced him to allege that he paid Rs.10 lakh as bribe to the excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana.

In his second bail petition submitted to the court, he said ACB had used third degree methods on him and forced him to make allegations against the minister. He asserted he never met the minister at any point of time.

“They have prepared my statement and forced me to sign it,” he alleged in the bail petition. He said he was forced to make statements not related to him. “I was unnecessarily dragged into the liquor scam with which I have no connection at all,” he said.

Praying for bail, he said he is an agriculturist and has been residing at Khammam to look after his sick wife and education of his children. (J)