Excise arrears date back to 1946

Disclosing this to reporters, Excise Minister M P Renukacharya said the department has to collect Rs  710 crore arrears.

Of this, Rs 260 crore is the penalty amount and Rs 450 crore is the interest on it. Strict action will be initiated to recover the entire amount, he stated.

 Asked why no measures were taken to collect arrears for over six decades the minister said he is not aware what happened in the past. Renukacharya, who had initially refused to accept the Excise portfolio, said he has no problem with it. In fact, he had not assumed office despite Raj Bhavan issuing a notification allotting him the portfolio as per the CM’s decision.

The Honalli MLA had asked for the Housing portfolio.