Liquor mafia deals under investigation as Minister Liju takes aim at Sambasiva Rao

KAYAMKULAM: Minister M. Liju has levelled serious allegations against Sreeram Sambasiva Rao, who was removed from the post of Excise Commissioner. The minister alleged that deals struck with the liquor mafia during the LDF government's tenure were still being implemented. He said he would recommend departmental and Vigilance inquiries into Rao's actions from the very beginning of his tenure.

The minister alleged that the practice of granting bar licences in violation of government policy began on the very day Rao assumed office, with two licences being issued that day. The investigation would also examine whether there had been an attempt to personally target the minister. Liju said the liquor policy would be announced before the 30th.

Commissioner's report is suspicious

Bar owner Komalath Ratheesh told the media that there were suspicious aspects to the report submitted by the Excise Commissioner.

He said he had known the minister since 2016 and maintained good relations with politicians across party lines in his capacity as a businessman. He has been in the liquor business for 24 years and is a director of a bar. Excise officials were conducting inspections as the bar licence was being transferred to his name. He denied that any financial transaction had taken place in connection with the matter.

Government to probe Rao's report

Minister M. Liju said the government would investigate the report submitted by Sambasiva Rao, which contained allegations of bribery against officials. He said that if the Excise Commissioner had submitted the report earlier, an investigation could have been initiated at that time. The minister added that, having been politically active in Alappuzha and Kayamkulam since his student days, he knew bar owners as well as others in the area. He questioned what was wrong with that.

The Minister said there was no need for him to personally call and ask whether someone had paid money to an individual, as that was the responsibility of the officials.

Liju also said that M.V. Govindan might have reservations about the move to prevent beer and wine parlours from being converted into bars. He alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government had granted permission to 458 bars and was preparing to grant permission to more than 200 beer parlours again.