UDF Govt to Probe 488 Bar Licences Issued During Pinarayi Vijayan's Tenure

The UDF government in Kerala will conduct a detailed examination of 488 bar licences granted during the previous LDF government's tenure and take action if any irregularities are detected, Excise Minister M Liju has said.

In a Facebook post on Thursday night, Liju responded to allegations by CPI(M) leader and former Excise Minister M B Rajesh over action taken against Excise officials for issuing bar licences under the previous government's liquor policy.

The minister said the 488 licences were granted over 10 years following a rule amendment introduced on June 23, 2017, which allowed establishments that had lost their bar licences in 2014 to regain them by submitting fresh applications.

Of these, 410 licences were granted during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government and another 78 during its second term, he said.

Disputing Rajesh's argument that officials were merely exercising their authority to renew licences, Liju said the establishments concerned had lost their licences 10 to 12 years earlier. He maintained that restoring such licences was different from routine annual renewals.

Liju also said the government would withdraw the authority given to Deputy Excise Commissioners to grant new FL 3 bar licences under the provision of renewal.

On FL 7 licences for airport transit lounges, the minister alleged that the Excise Commissioner had granted two such licences at Cochin International Airport on June 22 without informing the government.

The government subsequently halted proceedings on another application and directed that no licence be issued. One Excise Deputy Commissioner was removed from the post, while two others were suspended over decisions allegedly contrary to government policy.

Liju said all Excise Department orders would be uploaded on its website to ensure transparency. Rejecting Rajesh's demand for an apology, he accused the former minister of misleading the public and defending irregularities committed during the previous government's tenure.