Kerala bar licensing: Vigilance probe likely against Excise officials over alleged irregularities

Thiruvananthapuram: Excise Minister M Liju has indicated that a Vigilance investigation may be initiated against excise officials regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding bar licence distributions in the state. Following information received by the minister alleging financial transactions behind the granting of bar licences, moves are underway to submit a recommendation to the Home Department requesting a Vigilance probe. The Minister further stated that the recent suspensions of officials form part of the ongoing investigation into the matter.

The Minister noted that there were clear anomalies in issuing bar licences within 24 hours of application to wine and beer parlours that had remained closed for 10 to 12 years. He affirmed that strict action would be taken, highlighting that the irregularities in granting these licences were uncovered through his direct intervention.

Under current Abkari rules, a bar licence is cancelled if an establishment remains closed for 10 months. However, legal loopholes were exploited to urgently grant licences to venues that had been shut for years. Authorities are currently examining whether officials exhibited undue haste in processing these applications.

The Minister criticised lower-level officials for making such decisions without informing the Excise Commissioner or the government, taking advantage of loopholes created during the tenure of the previous LDF government.

The rules granting Deputy Commissioners the authority to issue and renew bar licences were amended under the previous administration. The Minister added that such flawed regulations enacted by the former government would be amended, stressing that no one would be permitted to act against government policy and that the current UDF government is under no obligation to continue the wrong practices of its predecessor.