Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao transferred amid bar licence controversy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao has been transferred amid the controversy over the issuance of bar licences without the knowledge of the government and the Excise Minister. The transfer came after Excise Minister M Liju expressed displeasure over the commissioner's actions and reportedly raised the matter with the Chief Minister.

Enforcement Additional Commissioner R Jayasankar has been given the additional charge of Excise Commissioner. Sambasiva Rao has been appointed Special Secretary in the SC/ST Development Department.

The controversy erupted after bar licences were issued to three beer and wine parlours and two lounge bars at Kochi airport. The licences were reportedly granted without the knowledge of the minister and before the new UDF government's liquor policy was announced. Two Excise officials had earlier been suspended in connection with the issue. Sambasiva Rao was appointed Excise Commissioner in June, replacing M.R. Ajith Kumar.

Minister's dissatisfaction led to Sambasiva Rao's transfer

1. Although Sambasiva Rao was not directly involved in issuing the licences, Sambasiva Rao had defended the Deputy Commissioners who approved them, which reportedly angered the minister.
2. The minister had also sought an explanation from the commissioner for not following the instruction to issue bar licences only after the announcement of the new liquor policy. However, Liju was not satisfied with Sambasiva Rao's reply that the licences had been granted in accordance with the rules.
3. Interestingly, Sambasiva Rao had earlier won the government's appreciation for taking action against officials who allegedly helped a bar in Kottayam operate beyond the permitted hours. He had strategically caught the officials involved in the violation.

Sambasiva Rao said he had not done anything illegal and that all decisions had been reported to the government in time.

"Transfers of officials are not new. This is a government that takes action against officials involved in corruption," Excise Minister M. Liju said.