Horticulture Minister Ram Reddy Venkat Reddy, on Sunday, denied having any links with the liquor syndicate.
Talking to reporters, Ram Reddy criticised Family Welfare Minister D L Ravindra Reddy's recent comments that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was trying to shield a minister from his caste while targeting ministers from Backward Classes.
He said that although Ravindra Reddy did not name him, the statement was directly aimed at him.
He said that he had no idea why D L Ravindra Reddy was trying to drag his name into the controversy.
Ram Reddy said that the neither he nor any of his family members had any links with the liquor syndicate. He also defended other leaders from Khammam district, stating that politicians, across all party lines, were honest.
He said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau had prepared its report based on the statements of persons with a criminal background, and that therefore, the report was not reliable.
The Horticulture Minister also demanded stern action on ACB officials for naming leading politicians without actually verifying the allegations. (INN)