PANAJI
After the shocking revelation of fraud and forgery involving its officials resulting in the suspension of three, the Excise Department has constituted a six-member committee tasked with conducting a comprehensive audit of all excise stations throughout the talukas.
Reliable sources informed The Goan that this committee consists of two excise inspectors and their subordinates. Their primary responsibility will be to physically visit the excise stations and thoroughly examine various records including total licences issued, payment receipts, pending applications, any cash holdings, and the stock of seized liquor among other relevant documents over the past few years.
The Pernem excise station came under the radar after Upper Division Clerk Harish Naik was caught manipulating the records, forging official and bank records, and misappropriating funds. He along with Inspectors Vibhuti Shetye and Durgesh Naik are suspended pending departmental proceedings. They are reporting to the headquarters till further orders, as directed in their respective orders by Excise Commissioner Narayan Gad on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Congress party workers on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Gad demanding to immediately register an FIR against the suspended staff for financial fraud. The party also demanded a thorough probe of the scam through the Crime Branch to unearth the actual loss incurred and track the main mastermind. “Why is he trying to hush up the matter without going to the roots of the scam? When was the last audit of the department done,” they questioned the Commissioner.
