Finally, after more than two years, the shocking exposé of The Goan into the infamous Excise Department scam in Goa has been taken to its logical conclusion. On Tuesday, Excise Commissioner Ankita Mishra dismissed the suspended head clerk of the Excise Department and barred him from future government employment. “After careful consideration of the inquiry report, submission of the accused and all materials available, it is concluded that the charges proved are grave and warrant the severest penalty,” stated the Excise Commissioner in her report.
This newspaper, on June 22, 2023, and thereafter in a series of stories, exposed one of the biggest scams in the history of the Excise Department, where the Upper Division Clerk posted at Pernem allegedly pocketed licence renewal fees running into crores, forged receipts, and shared the money with some of his superiors. Fake licences and receipts were issued, leaving licence holders unaware until notices of non-payment were sent by the Excise Headquarters.
The CAG report findings in its audit report of 2020 were also staggering. It pointed to non-renewal of over 1,000 liquor licences across five talukas, leading to a revenue shortfall of Rs 7.59 crore. The department's internal controls were exposed, and so was a system that appeared compromised. The question now is, why did it take authorities 27 months to conclude and confirm charges, despite the internal inquiry red-flagging issues? The long and sluggish pace of the probe has not only cast a shadow over the procedures but also the government’s intent to pursue cases of corruption and embezzlement of funds.
The eventual action may be appropriate, but the slow progress is not acceptable in such a sensitive case. It reflects a systemic failure and shows tolerance towards wrongdoing, given the seriousness of the charges. The delay leads one to speculate on how political considerations, bureaucratic inertia, and procedural red tape can impede swift justice in corruption cases. Such delays will not only embolden corrupt officials but will also go a long way to erode public confidence in the system.
While suspensions and dismissals are part of the probe process, the need of the hour is to undertake structural reforms within the department so that such loopholes are plugged. Online renewals is a good idea, but along with that, there have to be adequate internal checks, comprehensive audits, and stricter enforcement of rules. The head clerk may be dismissed, but what about the “supporting players” in the scam? A scam of this magnitude cannot be a handiwork of one or two people. The department may have nailed the prime accused, but there is no word about any other officials who have extended tacit support.
The excise scam exposé should have been a trigger for a complete clean-up. What the department has done is given the issue a burial while the skeletons are still in its cupboard. Excise becomes a crucial component of Goa’s tourism since it is driven by the liquor industry, and hence, there is all the more reason for water-tight and seamless systems. The department may have undertaken a slew of fixes to streamline processes and brought in some measure of accountability, but it still has a long way to go. The entire chain involved in such fraud needs to be dismantled.
