Bangalore: CM Orders Probe into Excise Irregularities in Dakshina Kannada

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jun 21: The alleged irregularities in the Excise Department in coastal Dakshina Kannada district will be subjected to a probe on the orders of the Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda.

The Chief Minister took the decision to order the probe after Dakshina Kannada JD(S) leader R Janardhana met him and demanded a comprehensive inquiry and removal of the Excise Minister M P Renukacharya for allegedly being ''hand-in-golve with corrupt officials in the Excise Department.”

Janardhan claimed that the chief minister assured him that the State Government would probe the charges and directed officials to submit a report in three days.

However, Minister Renukacharya clarified that the probe was ordered against the Dakshina Kannada Excise Inspector and not against him.

''The reports about probe against him are totally baseless,” Renukacharyaa said.

Speaking to reporters after submitting a memorandum to Gowda on the “irregularities,” Janardhan said he demanded removal of Excise Minister M P Renukacharya from the ministry, alleging he was hand-in-glove with excise officials and his inaction against corrupt excise officials was causing losses to the exchequer.

The JD(S) leader also alleged that the excise officials were ‘extorting’ money from liqour and wine shopowners for no tenable reasons.

But Renukacharya, a loyalist of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, refuted the charges and said Gowda should have consulted him before taking a decision.

“The Chief Minister should have first consulted his cabinet colleague before initiating a probe into the affairs of the Department,” he said and felt it was not correct on the part of the chief minister to direct his department officials to submit a report on the issue in three days.

Answering questions, Renukacharya, however, said the Chief Minister had all rights to look into any department. ''But courtesy demands that the minister concerned must be consulted,” he said.

Renukacharya claimed that excise revenue had gone up and he had tightened administration to curb ‘violations’ by liqour and wine shop-owners.

Obviously, these lobbies are spreading stories to tarnish his image, the minister added.