Firing another salvo at the Karnataka government, the Federation of Karnataka Wines Merchants Association on Friday (March 27) claimed that the Excise Department had included 86 licences that have already been renewed as part of the 579 licenses to be auctioned to individuals. Demanding a probe into this, the federation has said it will approach the Governor and Enforcement Directorate with a complaint.
The e-auction of 579 licences which was expected to fetch the cash-starved government a minimum of ₹600 crore has been currently stayed by the Karnataka High Court. As many as 27 individuals have approached the court against the e-auction, the federation said.
BJP’s demand
The wine merchants had in January alleged massive corruption in the Excise Department, following 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 government is rolling out reforms in the department.
The federation’s office-bearers told presspersons on Friday (March 27) that defunct licences had been given away to Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) when 463 licences were issued to the State-run corporation in 2008-2009, and that sometime later, it had been given back to the original licence holders, only to now be listed as part of the e-auction.
