Operating licences also included in e-auction, alleges wine merchants’ federation

Firing different salvo astatine the Karnataka government, the Federation of Karnataka Wines Merchants Association connected Friday (March 27) claimed that the Excise Department had included 86 licences that person already been renewed arsenic portion of the 579 licenses to beryllium auctioned to individuals. Demanding a probe into this, the federation has said it volition attack the Governor and Enforcement Directorate with a complaint.

The e-auction of 579 licences which was expected to fetch the cash-starved authorities a minimum of ₹600 crore has been presently stayed by the Karnataka High Court. As galore arsenic 27 individuals person approached the tribunal against the e-auction, the federation said.

BJP’s demand

The vino merchants had successful January alleged monolithic corruption successful the Excise Department, pursuing which the Opposition BJP had demanded the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur. The Minister, however, has defended himself by saying that the accusations are coming since the State authorities is rolling retired reforms successful the department.

The federation’s office-bearers told presspersons connected Friday (March 27) that defunct licences had been fixed distant to Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) erstwhile 463 licences were issued to the State-run corp successful 2008-2009, and that sometime later, it had been fixed backmost to the archetypal licence holders, lone to present beryllium listed arsenic portion of the e-auction.

“Once the licence holder mislaid his licence to MSIL, it should person been over. However, implicit a period, licences had been issued backmost to individuals. These renewed licences person again been enactment connected auction. The fig could beryllium overmuch much than 86 since we person compiled details from 21 districts only,” federation wide caput Govindraj Hegde said.

He further alleged that it is not conscionable the renewed licenses that are being auctioned; 102 licences of MSIL that are being operated presently are besides being auctioned. “The federation has petitioned Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajineesh, but nary enactment has been taken against officials for the large blunder,” lamented Mr. Hegde.

The federation besides said that though nary caller CL 2 and CL 9 licences person been issued since 1994, the fig of CL2 and CL 9 licences person accrued by 515.

Only aft HC order

Meanwhile, Mr. Thimmapur told The Hindu that the authorities is not auctioning immoderate licence that is presently operational. “We are lone auctioning those licences which are defunct. The e-auction volition instrumentality spot lone aft the High Court vacates the stay,” helium noted.