Andhra HC surprised at bids for costly liquor licenses by BPL people

 The Andhra Pradesh High Court today expressed surprise how people living below poverty line (BPL) are able to bid for liquor licences running into crores of rupees and felt some top political brass has ''manipulated'' the auctions in the state.

Chief Justice Madan B Lokur appeared to be flummoxed over 62 per cent of liquor licences in Srikakulam district and roughly about 60 per cent of licences in Vizianagaram district being awarded to white ration card holders falling under BPL category and card holders of 'Antyodaya' scheme.

"How these people are able to maintain their status below the poverty line on one hand for obtaining the benefits meant for the poor and downtrodden sections and bid for liquor licences running into lakhs and crores on the other," the court said.

The court expressed these views after going through the status report submitted today by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) over the progress of the investigations into the alleged liquor auctions scandal.

The chief justice expressed the view that "some top political brass has manipulated the situation and liquor trading in the state is being conducted benami".

"Other aspects like the income status of the beneficiaries, their benami connections and whether they are paying Income Tax at all need to be investigated," Lokur said.
The division bench comprising the Chief Justice and Justice P V Sanjay Kumar
impleaded the chief commissioner, Income Tax, Hyderabad as a party respondent and directed the ACB to share the information that was gathered so far with the IT department and file a fresh status report by June 11 by conducting the investigation with renewed zeal and vigour.