Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 5: Following the Valmiki Nigama and MUDA scams, another corruption allegation has surfaced against the state government, this time within the excise department. Federation of Wine Merchants Association has claimed that senior officials from the excise department informed them that excise minister R B Thimmapur has been collecting massive bribes from liquor shop owners.
The federation has alleged that excise officials, claiming they had to pay substantial sums for transfers, have been extorting money from traders. A federation office bearer accused Minister Thimmapur of being directly involved in this corruption, stating, “This is not just an accusation, but a call for action against corruption. We will fight this irrespective of which party is in power.”
Rs 1 crore per license; liquor shops to close down, protest on Nov 20
The federation further demanded the removal of minister Thimmapur and urged the chief minister to take charge, citing unmet demands and accusing the excise department of extreme corruption. “Obtaining a liquor shop license now costs Rs 1 crore, and corruption in the department must be curbed. Social activists have already lodged complaints with the governor, revealing the truth behind this issue,” federation said. The federation announced a planned closure of all liquor shops on November 20 to press their demands.
Monthly bribery
Opposition leader R Ashoka shared a post on social media, calling for the resignation of the excise minister. According to a letter from the Liquor Traders Association to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the governor, the association accused the minister of collecting Rs 15 crore each month from liquor shops under the guise of “monthly money,” totaling an estimated Rs 180 crore annually.
The Federation of Wine Merchants Association further alleged that minister Thimmapur has been involved in an extensive Rs 500 crore corruption scheme involving transfers, license approvals, and monthly bribes from liquor shops. Ashoka demanded the immediate removal of Thimmapur from his ministerial post and called for a Lokayukta investigation.
It’s also alleged that Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore is collected from 12,500 license holders every month as monthly payments by officers. The wine merchants are facing a severe crisis due to rampant corruption. The minister Thimmapur should be dropped and the Excise ministry should be handled by the minister who also holds the Finance portfolio, the federation has demanded.
For the post of District Excise Officer Rs 2.5 crore to Rs 3 crore is fixed, for the Deputy Superintendent post Rs 40 to Rs 50 lac is fixed. To obtain a C17 license the government fee is Rs 10 to Rs 12 lac and Rs 70 lac to Rs 1 crore needs to be shelled out as kickback, the federation charged.
Meanwhile R Ashoka stated on Tuesday: “The Karnataka Wine Merchants’ Association in its letter to CM Siddaramaiah has alleged that State Excise Minister R.B.Timmapur is involved in blatant extortion and bribery, unfolding another dark episode of the series of scams by 'SCAM'gress Govt in Karnataka.”
He claimed that after the Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation Scam, MUDA land scam, KIADB land scam, Waqf Scam, this Liquor scam is yet another fresh addition to the series of cases by the state government in the last 17 months.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra stated, “Under Siddaramaiah, corruption isn’t just a scandal—it’s a lifestyle. In the latest chapter of his 17-month epic of graft, the Karnataka Wine Merchants Association exposes the staggering extortion racket run by Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur.”
“This isn’t your average pay-to-play scheme. Thimmapur is allegedly raking in Rs 180 crore a year in “hafta” from liquor outlets—yes, all in the noble name of “election purposes,” he stated.
“And the best part? There’s a full-on ‘rate card’ for bribes! From Rs 30- Rs 70 lakh to secure a CL7 bar license to nearly 1,000 illegal licenses issued, this operation is practically a franchise in corruption, amassing Rs 700 crore annually,” he charged.
Vijayendra added that this is nothing short of an industrial-scale bribe list. Ironically, Siddaramaiah, who labelled the previous BJP government as a “40 per cent Sarkara” based on unfounded allegations, is now silent on this staggering Rs 500 crore per year corruption claim against his minister made by the Karnataka Wine Merchants Association.
Reacting to charges, Minister R. B. Thimmapur stated on Tuesday that he does not know about any transfers and bribes. “No transfers, nothing. We have only made routine promotions. I have not seen money in crores at all. If anyone has seen it, show it to me,” he said.
(With inputs from IANS)