PANJIM, MARCH 25
Claiming that the money of the Excise scam was being used to fund terror networks, Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar today demanded a CBI inquiry into a multi-crore excise scam.
The illicit and unaccounted liquor consignments worth crores of rupees were sent to states bordering Pakistan, like Rajasthan and Punjab and several states in the north east, Parrikar said while speaking during the question hour.
Parrikar’s claims came after he had alleged a 40-crore excise scam during the last assembly session. He had said that several officials from the State Excise Department were involved in the scam.
Speaking during the Question Hour, Parrikar today said that this was a serious matter.
“Border states in the north east, Punjab and Rajasthan are involved,” he said adding “The money of the scam is being used to fund terror networks.”
The Parrikar also threatened that he will write to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apprising him of the issue.
“I still believe the prime minister has some uprightness. I will write to him to probe the issue,” Parrikar said.
Despite persistent demand from the leader of Opposition Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was non committal on criminal investigation into the scam.
“The Finance Secretary is conducting an inquiry into the matter,” Kamat said replying to the query.
However, unsatisfied by the reply Parrikar said the Finance Secretary does not have powers to conduct such an inquiry.
“The only thing that needs to be investigated in who made the payment for the 1.04 lakh liters of alcohol that was imported in September,” he said adding “trace the source of payment and you will come to know who is culprit.”
He also said that the verification of the signature of the Superintendent of Excise is also required in the matter, which the Finance secretary cannot do.
“The Finance secretary cannot go to Punjab and Rajasthan to investigate the matter,” he said.
Meanwhile, in order to curb increasing incidents of illegal export of illicit alcohol from Goa, the state excise department has asked excise authorities from the neighbouring states, Maharashtra and Karnataka to thoroughly verify the antecedents of liquor consignments from the state.
In a written reply to Goa legislative assembly, Kamat, also the finance minister has said: “the department (excise) has informed all the relevant states excise commissioners not to issue any export permit to any of the distilleries based in Goa unless the genuineness of import permits is verified from the Goa excise authorities”.
Admitting that he was aware of certain apprehensions about illegal large scale import/export of various types of spirits and alcohols, Kamat said that “screening of vehicles at border check posts have been beefed up”.
Kamat also said that the state government had initiated an enquiry into a multi crore alcohol excise scam.
“The enquiry has commenced and a detailed explanation has been sought from the Commissioner (Excise),” Kamat has said, adding that various documents were being ‘scutinized’ by the state finance secretary Udipta Ray, who is probing the excise scam.
