Officials turn blind to illicit liquor sales

Govt loses revenue liquor shop owners become rich

Adilabad: Sale of spurious liquor is rampant as the State government approved 158 retail liquor shops and 22 bars across the district. Earlier, liquor outlets used to sell liquor brought from Maharashtra. Now, liquor shop owners are mixing water in liquor battles and selling them to customers.Recently, the officials of the Excise Department raided liquor shops in Kadem and Mamada mandals. Officials registered cases against those shops which were selling spurious liquor.

It is learnt that owners of liquor shops are mixing water in branded liquor bottles popular among consumers. Even, liquor outlets are selling cheap liquor by labeling them as branded ones in the mandals falling under Nirmal, Mancherial and Adilabad divisions. There are allegations that the Excise officials have failed to control sale of adulterated liquor through licensed outlets in the district.

State government is losing revenue with the sale of spurious liquor in bottles whereas the liquor shop owners are becoming rich. Excise Department had earned Rs 385 crore through liquor sales in the eight months but officials failed to meet the target set by the government.Majority outlets are owned by liquor mafia in the district. They are selling illicit liquor through their shops.

Excise officials are not bothered to take action on liquor shops which are selling spurious liquor as they have support of political leaders. If at all the officials make an attempt to raid the shops, the political leaders will exert pressure and stop them from going ahead.Moreover, officials are keeping quiet as they are allegedly receiving monthly bribes from liquor shop owners.