Spurious liquor sale: Hassan ZP demands Lokayukta probe

Rampant: Deputy Commissioner of Excise confirms

A heated discussion took place between  MLA H D Revanna and Deputy Commissioner of Excise Hyder Ali Khan over this issue for some time.

A decision in this connection was taken at the special meeting organised at Zilla Panchayat Auditorium in Hassan on Friday.

As soon as the meeting began, the members of the panchayat, cutting across party lines raised the issue of sale of spurious liquor in the government sealed liquor bottles.
 The members alleged that each owner of wine shop of the district has been giving a ‘tip’ of ` 15000 every month to the excise department officials.

Out of this ` 15,000 bribe, the excise department officials pocket ` 5000 themselves and the remaining amount of bribe is being given to Excise Minister, they alleged. Responding to the allegations, Deputy Commissioner of Excise Hyder Ali Khan denied the  charges of collection of bribe from wine shop owners by the officers of the department, but he acknowledged the sale of spurious liquor in the government sealed bottles.

On the same occasion, MLA C S Puttegowda urged the Government to order for detailed probe to divulge  the nexus between officers and  agents of spurious liquor distributors.

Apology

Members of Zilla Panchayat demanded an apology from Minister of Excise and District In-charge M P Renukacharya for disrespecting Zilla Panchayat President Mahadevamma who is a Dalit.

The Minister had insulted the community by not inviting the ZP president to attend the public programmes as per the protocol. They threatened to gherao the minister during his next visit if he fails to apologise in this regard.

MLA H K Kumaraswamy also participated at the meeting.