The Excise department has uncovered liquor licence scam by its own staff of issuing of fake licences and payment receipts to the owners of establishments resulting in a loss of crores of rupees to the exchequer. The epicentre of this scam has been the Pernem Excise station. It is also reported that the staff is also responsible for illegally selling seized liquor bottles. There is no multiple check mechanisms to detect whether permits are genuine or duplicate. It's being rumoured that the employee suspected in this case has gained tremendous political advantage by transferring him to Valpoi without suspending him. The Excise departments laxity itself raise concerns. It is for the department to, now, consider the report and initiate steps to clear the controversy, as there are seriously disputed questions of fact which have to be thrashed out after further investigation. Such errant employees should be sacked invoking rule 56(j) of the Fundamental Rules, which allows the appropriate authority to retire any government servant, in public interest, by giving notice of three months.
