The state excise department plans to enforce a new rule wherein those below 21 years of age will not be allowed to buy liquor or consume the same in pubic places like pubs bars and restaurants.
At present this e below 18 years of age are barred from buying liquor. But the rule is never enforced and one can see several youngsters who are just 14 or 15 years buying and consuming liquor.
This time however the excise department is firm that it will enforce the new rule. The consumption of liquor by youngsters is seen towns and cities. Students staying in hostels and private accommodation are most likely to consume liquor in the absence of adult supervision.
The excise department plans to impose a fine of Rs. 1,000 on those found violating the rule. If the rule is violated a second time then they could face imprisonment.
2012/2/17 6:53:37 The anti Corruption Bureau has appointed a Special Investigation Team to deal with the liquor syndicate issue in the State.
According to sources, the SIT would have 11 senior officials led by Additional Director Srinivasa Rao to probe into the activities of liquor syndicate in the State. (INN)
2011/12/19 1:24:45 The Telugu Desam Party on Sunday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation into the liquor scam in the state.Addressing a press conference at district party office, TDP MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao demanded that the government register cases against those Ministers for their alleged involvement in the liquor mafia.He said the CBI probe into excise-police-political nexus would come up with complete details and reveal more names in a couple of days.
He said the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) searches at the offices of liquor syndicates in several parts of the state have revealed the nexus between the Ministers and liquor syndicate.
He suspected that the family members of Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana might have been involved in the liquor syndicate. He demanded the ACB officials to reveal the documents which were seized during the raids in the state.
Meanwhile the Communist Party of India state secretary K Narayana demanded that the government order CB-CID probe into liquor scam in the State (INN).
2011/12/21 16:37:42 The activists of Communist Party of India on Wednesday staged a dharna before the Excise Department office demanding stern action against those involved in the liquor syndicate.
CPI State Secretary M Narayana, who led the protest, told reporters that the State Government should not shield anyone involved in the liquor syndicate. He demanded that the government disclose the contents of the reports of Anti Corruption Bureau's raids on the liquor syndicate.
Narayana asked the government to take action against the liquor syndicates across the State as they have been fleecing the common man by charging exorbitant rates. He also demanded that the government release a White Paper on the issue. (INN)
TDP's state wide protest against liquor mafia on Dec 26
2011/12/20 17:26:38 The Telugu Desam Party will hold protests before the District Collectorate across the State on December 26 against fleecing of poor consumers with exorbitant prices by liquor mafia and syndicates in the State.
Addressing a press conference at NTR Trust Bhavan here on Tuesday, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu questioned the silence of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the exposure of corrupt activities of the liquor syndicate during the raids conducted by the Anti Corruption Bureau across the state. He demanded that the State Government convene an all party meeting to discuss the issue of liquor scam.
Naidu said that he would meet the Chief Minister on Thursday and Governor E S L Narasimhan on December 24 to explain the financial damage due liquor syndicates. He demanded that every liquor shop should put a MRP board for consumer’s benefit. The government should close belt-shops across the State and also book criminal charges against all those involved in the liquor syndicates.
Naidu alleged that the government has thrown all social responsibilities to wind and playing games with the lives of people by acting irresponsibly. He also slammed Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana for openly justifying and defending the continuance of liquor syndicates in the state.
Instead of prohibiting liquor, Naidu said that the government itself was promoting the liquor consumption for mobilizing funds.
The TDP chief demanded that the government disclose the names of all the ministers and MLAs who were found involved in the liquor mafia. “It is high time for the government to announce a new permit system for liquor shops to put an end to the nexus between liquor syndicate and others,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam Mahila unit leaders and workers staged a dharna in front of the Nampally Excise Commissioner’s Office demanding dismissal of Ministers who are patronising the liquor syndicates. (INN)
2012/5/15 7:19:26 Hyderabad, May 15 (INN): The Lok Satta Party on Tuesday termed the State Government’s move to grant liquor shop licenses on a lottery basis as "nothing but old wine in new bottle." The lottery system, which was in vogue until 2004, too has the potential for formation of syndicates and all the evils that go with them.
In a letter, Lok Satta Party Working President D V V S Varma requested Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy to convene an all-party meeting for discussing the new liquor policy.
According to media reports, the Cabinet sub-committee which studied the systems prevailing in a number of States suggested that liquor shops be allotted on a lottery basis. He pointed out it is strange that the sub-committee seeks to revive the Chandrababu Naidu Government policy instead of opting for State take-over of retail trade in liquor as in Delhi and Tamil Nadu.
Varma said that most political parties in the State are in favor of the State Government taking over retail liquor trade and restricting liquor consumption through limiting the number of shops and the days and hours of their working.
He warned the Chief Minister that revival of the Chandrababu policy will neither produce good results nor enhance the Government's image.
2012/2/24 7:31:42 Hyderabad, Feb 24 (INN): The left parties, Bharatiya Janata Party and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen on Friday staged a walk-out from the State Legislative Assembly for non-acceptance of their demands during the debate on liquor syndicate.
Talking to reporters later, BJP floor leader E Lakshminaraynana said that the State Government has failed to regulate the sale of liquor in the State. He said the BJP has demanded constitution of a House Committee to probe into the liquor syndicate, which was not accepted by the government.
CPI (M) floor leader J Ranga Reddy said that the State Government should have ordered judicial enquiry into the scam. But instead of exposing the corrupt, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was openly defending his cabinet colleague and Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana who has been accused of taking bribe from the liquor syndicate. He alleged that the TDP and Congress MLAs have misused the House to level personal allegations.
CPI MLA Chandravati condemned the debate on liquor syndicate and said that senior MLAs have set a bad precedent for junior MLAs like her by misusing the House to level personal allegations.
Similarly, MIM members staged a walkout from the House while demanding total prohibition in the State.
2011/9/15 8:45:53 Malayalam superstar Mammootty has produced a documentary asking people to shun liquor, and said he too would do so -- on the screen.
Mammotty's 40-second film with a message - Say No to Liquor and Say No to Drugs - was unveiled Thursday by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
"I always try to avoid such scenes but at times it becomes imperative to do it because the situation demands it," Mammootty said at the event.
"From now on I will do my best to avoid such scenes which depict liquor or liquor imposed scenes," added Mammootty, the top actor of the Malayalam film industry for two decades.
Pointing to director Priyadarshan at the event, Mammootty said: "You have to ask people like him (Priyadarshan) because they ask us to do this and that. But let me tell you, I will do my best to do away with such scenes."
Chandy said people should try to rid Kerala of the tag of being India's largest liquor consumer.
"Not long ago Kerala was known for the huge strides it made in literacy and its health status. But of late it has taken a back seat and we are now known as the top liquor consuming state.
"This has to change. We hope that promotional material like this (Mammootty's documentary) will do us a world of good," the chief minister said.
According to a report, liquor sales rose to all time high of Rs.6,730.30 crore in 2010-11 from Rs.5,539.85 crore in 2009-10. (IANS)
2011/12/19 9:55:27 Demanding removal of ministers having alleged nexus with the liquor mafia, the Telugu Desam Party on Monday staged a dharna at Gollapudi on the National Highway No 9 disrupting the traffic.
Leading the agitation, MLA Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao demanded that the government disclose the details of report of raids by the Anti Corruption Bureau on the liquor syndicate last week. Asking the government to initiate action against those Ministers for their alleged involvement, he alleged that one-third of the cabinet ministers might be involved in the liquor scam. He also alleged that the family members of Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana were having a nexus with the liquor mafia.
Devineni alleged that the liquor syndicate in collusion with the ministers was selling the liquor at higher price in shops violating the MRP and other norms fixed by the government. He demanded that the Chief Minister give an explanation over the issue to clear the doubts among people.
The TDP activists also burnt effigy of the State Government during the protest. (INN)
TDP demands probe into ministers-liquor mafia nexus
2011/12/17 16:50:35 The Telugu Desam Party on Saturday demanded that the government order high level probe against the ministers who have allegedly received bribes from the liquor mafia in the state.
Talking to media persons at NTR Trust Bhavan, TDP MLA Motkupalli Narasimhulu demanded that the state government order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the allegations that some ministers and officials have nexus with the liquor mafia. He said that the Anti Corruption Bureau raids on liquor syndicate have clearly exposed that the ministers were receiving bribe to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore. He alleged that the government was playing with lives of thousands of people in order to mobilize funds for populist schemes.
TDP MLA Bojja Gopala Krishna Reddy demanded that the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy resign from his post owning moral responsibility for alleged nexus between his Cabinet Ministers and the liquor syndicate.
Another MLA Mandava Venkateswara Rao demanded that the government disclose the details of ACB raids on liquor syndicate. (INN)
High Court serves notices to State, ACB on liquor syndicate probe
2012/2/27 7:15:15 Hyderabad, Feb 27 (INN): The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday served notices to the State Government and Anti-Corruption Bureau over the probe into liquor syndicate.
The notices were issued after the High Court admitted a Public Interest Litigation filed by freedom fighter Devara seeking directions to the government for an impartial probe into the liquor syndicate.
While serving notices, the court directed the government to submit the progress of ACB probe report on liquor syndicates to the court in a sealed cover within three weeks and adjourned the petition for next hearing for three weeks.
In the PIL, the freedom fighter appealed to court to issue directions for an impartial probe as the ACB officials might be influenced by politicians. He appealed to court to order for a judicial probe with sitting High Court judge to get complete details on the alleged nexus of politicians with the liquor syndicate.
EC to act tough against cash and liquor flow in by-polls
2012/5/5 9:20:35 Hyderabad, May 5 (INN): Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal on Saturday assured of taking adequate measures to stop flow of liquor and cash to lure voters in the by-elections for the 18 assembly and one Parliament seats in the State.
Talking to reporters at the State Secretariat, Bhanwarlal said that the Election Commission would also ensure that all candidates stop their campaign 48-hours before the polling. He informed that nearly Rs 5 crore cash and about 30,000 litres of liquor have been seized at different places in 12 districts where elections are to be held on June 12.
Bhanwarlal said that all the liquor shops have been that their sales should not exceed the average that they had during April 24-June 12 last year.
The CEO informed that the Election Commission might take a decision with regard to the appointment of RTI Commissioners by Monday. He also said that Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Zutshi has expressed satisfaction over the arrangements being made for the by-elections.
Disclose the names of liquor kickback recipients: LS
2011/12/20 17:22:56 The Lok Satta Party on Tuesday demanded that the State Government straightway disclose the names of people's representatives, officials and others who have received kickbacks from liquor syndicates.
It may be recalled that the State's Anti Corruption Bureau had raided the offices of liquor syndicates and seized documents testifying to payment of bribes to influential people for conniving at their illegal activities.
Addressing a media conference, Lok Satta Party Acting Working President V Laxman Balaji and other leaders said that the Government should inquire into the scam without delay and mete out stringent punishment including confiscation of ill-gotten property to the guilty.
The leaders recalled that it is only the Lok Satta Party which had agitated against auction of liquor shops as it anticipated its inexorable consequences. Those who obtained liquor shops at exorbitant rates have been indulging in malpractices like selling liquor at more than maximum retail prices, palming off spurious liquor, encouraging opening of belt shops and running unofficial bars at licensed retail outlets.
They alleged that traditional political parties like the Congress and the Telugu Desam, which believe in luring voters with liquor, running liquor shops in benami names and accepting party funds from liquor mafia did not join the Lok Satta in its agitation.
Both the Congress and the TDP had been guilty of turning liquor into a cash cow for the State exchequer and ruining the health and finances of the poor, they charged. The poor are squandering their earnings under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme on consuming liquor as liquor shops have become omnipresent. They demanded that the Government publish a white paper on the funds it spends on the welfare of the poor and the revenue it derives from liquor sales.
The Lok Satta leaders demanded that the Government run liquor shops by doing away with the auction system. It should put an end to belt shops and illicit liquor, and drastically regulate the number of liquor outlets. Village panchayats should have the freedom to decide whether there should be a liquor outlet in the village or not, they added. (INN)
2011/12/19 17:15:14 The Communist Party of India will participate in the by-elections likely to be held in 24 assembly constituencies in the State.
While seven seats are already vacant, 17 more assembly segments would go for by-polls if the rebel Congress MLAs gets disqualified for violating the party whip. CPI state secretary K Narayana on Monday announced that the party would contest from all the constituencies going for by-elections. However, Narayana told reporters that a final decision in this regard would be taken by January 6-7 after discussing the issue in the party's executive committee meeting to be held in Hyderabad.
Narayana demanded that the State Government come out with the comprehensive details of raids conducted by the Anti Corruption Bureau on liquor shops as they have exposed the nexus between the ministers and the liquor mafia. He said that the government should order a high-level probe into the liquor scam and punish the guilty, irrespective of their position.
He also announced that the CPI would stage protests in front of Excise Offices across the state on December 21 demanding that the liquor shops sell sachets as per the government fixed MRP. (INN)
2012/1/29 14:33:56 The Anti Corruption Bureau will submit its report to the ACB Court on liquor syndicate on Monday.
In a statement, the ACB said that it would submit its 750-page report to the court about the raids conducted in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Prakasam, Krishna, Guntur, Warangal, East and West Godavari districts. Along with the report, the ACB will also submit several key documents, records and other material seized during the raids across the State.
The ACB said that 11 members of liquor syndicate and eight officials from the Excise Department were arrested in the case. The ACB, during its raids, has reportedly found one excise inspector in possession of Rs 22 lakh and two excise sub-inspectors received Rs 10 lakh each as kickbacks.
The report is likely to expose the nexus between the liquor mafia, excise and police officials and also the journalists. (INN)
Final report on liquor syndicate will be my priority: Prasada Rao
2012/5/22 8:20:13 Hyderabad, May 22 (INN): Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau B Prasad Rao on Tuesday said that the department was in consultation with the legal experts to prepare a final report on the investigations into the liquor syndicate.
Prasad Rao told INN that the ACB would soon finalise the report on the liquor syndicate across the State and submit the same to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He said presently the department was in the process of analysing the outcome of investigations into different cases that there were booked in connection with the liquor syndicate. "Submission of final report to the High Court on liquor syndicate will be my top priority," he said.
Prasad Rao, who took charge as the ACB-DG on Monday, dismissed reports that appeared in a section of media that he was close to Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana. He said he never had any political affiliations and would perform his duties without fear or favour.
He also said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau was not new to him and he has worked with the department for a period of nearly five years. He was with the ACB from 1998 to 2002 and later he was given posting in the department for a period of one year.
Seeking public support to curb corruption in the State, he said that he would give priority to resolve all the pending cases in the ACB.
2007/12/19 21:17:32 The prices of Beer and hard liquor have gone up steeply. The state government has hiked the prices of IMFL steeply. The effect comes into force from Wednesday. Accordingly the cost of a beer bottle has gone up from the present 50 rupes to 60 rupees. The cost of rum and wine too has gone up by about 20 rupees for a bottler of 750 ml.
The hike comes at the wrong time say many. This being the festive season, the hike has come as a dampener. The sale of liquor gores up considerably during the year-end, particularly during the run up to Christmas and the New Year. The consumption of liquor shoots up by almost 50 percent during this period touching even 200 per cent by the time of the New Year eve celebrations.
2011/12/22 17:28:12 Former minister T Jeevan Reddy on Thursday demanded that the State Government immediately disclose the report of Anti Corruption Bureau on the raids that it conducted across the state on liquor syndicate. He said the contents should be made public as several politicians, police officials and journalists have reportedly been named by the ACB for receiving kickbacks from the liquor syndicate.
Talking to media persons at Public Gardens in Nampally, Jeevan Reddy asked the government to maintain transparency by disclosing the details of key documents seized during the ACB raids. If the government fails to release the report early, he said it would send a wrong message among the public that government was shielding the ministers, who are allegedly involved in receiving the kickbacks.
Jeevan Reddy appealed to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to make concrete efforts to improve the image of the State government by taking severe action on the guilty as per the law.
Based on the population in an area, he said the government should give liquor permits. With liquor shops selling sachets at exorbitant prices violating the government fixed rates, he urged the Excise Commissioner to take all steps for the display of MRP in front of liquor shops. He also slammed the government for not making concrete efforts to check proliferation of illegal belt shops in rural areas. (INN)
Govt ready to order probe into liquor scam: Minister
2011/12/19 1:35:30 Excise & Prohibition Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao on Sunday stated that the state government was ready to order probe into liquor scam in the wake of alleged nexus between Ministers and liquor syndicate.
Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office, Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao said that the government was ready to initiate action on those ministers, if found involved in receiving the bribes from liquor syndicate.
“Even I am ready to face any kind of probe against me in this connection,” he said. Stating that the government yet to receive a report from the Anti Corruption Bureau over the raids and seizing of documents, he said once the probing agency submits its report, the government would initiate action against those who are responsible for the scam.
He said the ACB was doing its duty and not targeting anyone in this regard. He said that excise officials have booked 780 cases against those liquor shops which are selling liquor at more than MRP.
Stating that Rs 50,000 fine imposed on shops for booking them for first time, he said the officials would impose Rs 1 lakh for registering case for second time. If the shop was booked for third time, he said the department would cancel the licence of shop.
Admitting the loopholes in auction of liquor shops, he said the government would take all steps to maintain transparency in auction and announce a new liquor policy by Budget session.
He said the TDP has no moral right to seek a probe on liquor scam as more number of belt shops came during their tenure.(INN)
2012/1/28 14:38:03 Telugu Desam party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday called upon people not to become slaves to the habit of liquor consumption.
Talking to media persona at NTR Trust Bhavan, after administering oath of secrecy to Telugu Technical Wing president P Srikanth Reddy, the TDP chief Naidu said that the habit not only causes economic degradation but would affect the health of people. “There is no problem if the people consume it occasionally. But they should not become slaves to such habit and spoil their health,” he pointed out, adding that he never consumed liquor so far at any time in his life.
Slamming the alleged nexus of liquor syndicate in the state, he alleged that the government was playing with the lives of people at the cost of mobilizing resources for welfare schemes.
Naidu said that the party would intensify its agitation against liquor syndicates in all revenue divisions in the state from January 30, the death anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He said that he was never aspiring to become Chief Minister of the state and added that no one could beat his record of nine years as the Chief Minister and Opposition leader.
He lamented that the development of state lagged behind 20 years due to wrong policies of Congress party.
Naidu said that his main aim was to make agriculture a profitable avocation and agitate for it until the farmers received due justice. (INN)
Excise Minister in fix with liquor syndicate bribes
2012/2/21 2:36:05 According to reports the liquor syndicate broker Ramana who is in ACB custody, during the interrogation has revealed shocking information about Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana. Although, the minister condemns of meeting Ramana and taking bribe of Rs.10 lakhs from him, he reiterated that the Minister made a settlement between him and another syndicate owner at his own house and took Rs.10 lakhs bribe for it. Soon after the Minister's name surfaced in the liquor syndicate issue the state Government has hushed-up the matter stating he was innocent. The Minister also came to media as if he was victim of some big conspiracy.
The Telugu Desam Party on Sunday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation into the liquor scam in the state.Addressing a press conference at district party office, TDP MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao demanded that the government register cases against those Ministers for their alleged involvement in the liquor mafia.He said the CBI probe into excise-police-political nexus would come up with complete details and reveal more names in a couple of days.
The activists of Communist Party of India on Wednesday staged a dharna before the Excise Department office demanding stern action against those involved in the liquor syndicate.
Malayalam superstar Mammootty has produced a documentary asking people to shun liquor, and said he too would do so -- on the screen.
The Telugu Desam Party on Saturday demanded that the government order high level probe against the ministers who have allegedly received bribes from the liquor mafia in the state.
The Lok Satta Party on Tuesday demanded that the State Government straightway disclose the names of people's representatives, officials and others who have received kickbacks from liquor syndicates.
Former minister T Jeevan Reddy on Thursday demanded that the State Government immediately disclose the report of Anti Corruption Bureau on the raids that it conducted across the state on liquor syndicate. He said the contents should be made public as several politicians, police officials and journalists have reportedly been named by the ACB for receiving kickbacks from the liquor syndicate.
Excise & Prohibition Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao on Sunday stated that the state government was ready to order probe into liquor scam in the wake of alleged nexus between Ministers and liquor syndicate.
Telugu Desam party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday called upon people not to become slaves to the habit of liquor consumption.
According to reports the liquor syndicate broker Ramana who is in ACB custody, during the interrogation has revealed shocking information about Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana. Although, the minister condemns of meeting Ramana and taking bribe of Rs.10 lakhs from him, he reiterated that the Minister made a settlement between him and another syndicate owner at his own house and took Rs.10 lakhs bribe for it. Soon after the Minister's name surfaced in the liquor syndicate issue the state Government has hushed-up the matter stating he was innocent. The Minister also came to media as if he was victim of some big conspiracy.
