Representation image
Thrissur: 40,000 boxes containing 3.6 lakh litres of alcohol stored in Chalakkudy Beverages Godown were destroyed without following proper procedures in the state. Further, the Excise Department failed to trace records of inspection conducted by the audit section or the Mahasar prepared ahead of destroying the unusable alcohol.
The stocks were set aside to be discarded after they became unusable following the 2018 Kerala Floods. As per the records, the alcohol boxes were shifted to Travancore Sugars and Chemicals. However, no documents are available to verify the audit procedures and preparation of Mahasar.
Similarly, 47 cases of alcohol were found missing from the godown on March 19, 2023. These stocks were set aside after being labelled unusable. It is still unclear what happened to this missing stock.
As per the existing rules, the excise department should keep records of alcohol stored and transferred from godowns. Further, a Mahasar should be prepared and sent along with the alcohol stocks set aside for discarding. Before discarding the stock, the Mahasar should be examined and verified.
RELATED STORIES
.jpg?$p=d83648f&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
.jpg?$p=70fc63a&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=1400dd6&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=70fc63a&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=1400dd6&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
