As Kejriwal names Maguntas in court, father and son campaign for BJP ally in Andhra

Away from the national capital’s courtroom where the case against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is playing out, two key figures embroiled in the excise policy case – four-time MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy and his son Raghava Magunta Reddy – are busy campaigning for BJP ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), with the former expected to get a ticket from Andhra Pradesh’s Ongole. Raghava is, in fact, one of the approvers based on whose statement the Enforcement Directorate has built its case against Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party.

The ED alleges the father-son duo, who own Balaji Distilleries, are part of the ‘South Group’, whose members received undue benefits under the Delhi excise policy in exchange for kickbacks paid to the AAP.

It was in September 2022 that Srinivasulu’s name first emerged in the case, as the ED searched offices, premises and properties owned by him in Nellore, New Delhi and Chennai. He was, however, never made an accused in the case.

In February 2023, Raghava was arrested by the ED on money laundering charges. “Phir baap toot gaye (the father buckled then),” the CM said in Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday, alleging that following his son’s arrest, Srinivasulu changed his previous statement to the ED.

In October 2023, special court judge M K Nagpal allowed Raghava to turn an approver in the case. Kejriwal alleged that seven of Raghava’s statements were recorded, and six were not against him. “Only one statement was against me. As soon as he made a statement against me, he was released,” alleged the CM.

Raghava turned approver and was granted pardon in the ED case in October last year, and anticipatory bail in a CBI case in February this year.

He and Srinivasulu, a four-time MP from Ongole, joined the TDP on