Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Feb 23: “The government should take strict action against officials of the Excise department for demanding bribe from the wine merchants. There are illegal dealings happening in Excise department state wide. They are exploiting license holders or one who wants license for opening an outlet. So considering these points, the members of wine merchants have written a letter to the commissioner to hold a probe against Excise officials,” said Guruswamy Mysur, president of Federation of Wine Merchants' Association, Karnataka, at Hotel Sharada International here on Thursday, February 22.

Speaking on behalf the federation he said, “Responding to the complaint letter of licensee, the joint commissioner issued a notice to investigate the matter. It is said that a union headed by deputy commissioner of Excise department, Udupi Merunandan is ready to fight against the licensee. It is problem of 30 districts.

“The Excise department has been misusing the district bearers by taking signatures from them. It is selling adulterated liquor at dabas and small shops illegally. Hence, the government has lost crores of profits.

“Excise officials have made huge money by bribing and holding Benami (unnamed) properties. The government should order an investigation by appointing a retired justice in ten days,” he said.

Govindraj Hegde, chief secretary said, “In October 2016, sub-inspector Chandra Shekhar and other members have tried to file a case of atrocity on Govindraj. The excise department did not take any action against sub-inspector Vinod Kumar and Chandra Shekhar Nayak and other okkuta members, though the investigation was conducted by commissioner. Now wine merchants are facing difficult days.”

Guruswamy said, “The complaint will be sent to Lokayukta and ACB. Joint commissioner Manjunth from Belgaum was arrested in a bribe case and was kept in prison for 10 days. Later, the case was closed due to influence of money.

“We have also brought this issue to the notice of state excise minister R B Timmapur, but it is of no use. He is least bothered about protecting the interest of wine merchants. The state government has turned deaf to our problems from the past five years. Hence, the association demands to issue transfer order to the present deputy commissioner of Excise department, Udupi, Merunandan, at the earliest.

“The members of Federation of Wine Merchants Association, Karnataka has decided to approach higher authority to overcome this problem of exploitation. We have prepared a list of officers taking bribe and made categories on divisional basis. The concerned department should act immediately and address the problems,” he said.

Meharvade Hubballi, treasurer, Karunakar Hegde, Bengaluru division, Ramesh Shalagara, Lokesh, J Ramulu of Gulbarga, Sudhakar Shetty and others were present.