Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has written to the Director of Vigilance demanding a probe into the state government action of hiking the liquor price. The letter demands a probe against the Chief Minister, Excise Minister and Bevco MD.
Chennithala had earlier alleged corruption into the move of increasing the price of Indian-made foreign liquor. The letter written to the Vigilance Director is a follow up on that. A corruption of Rs 200 crore has taken place. A detailed probe is required into this, he demanded.
The government had hiked the price of liquor owing to the price hike of the extra neutral alcohol required in its making. The price was increased by 7 percent. This was actually to help a particular company, to help them attain Rs 200 crore profit, Chennithala alleged.
Earlier during the tenure of the previous government, when the price of extra neutral alcohol increased, the price of liquor was increased only by 4 percent. But this government has increased the price of liquor twice claiming an increase in the price of extra neutral alcohol. This is solely to help liquor companies, he added.
