The number of cases wherein local alcohol as well as Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) manufactured in Goa is being intercepted has turned out to be to the tune of crores of rupees. Yet, this quantity is being considered as a drop from the barrel of liquor that is being illegally traded out of the State’s borders every year. And with elections scheduled in some States and the general elections to the Parliament next year, the illegalities are expected to only expand their footprints.
Recently, a truck laden with transformers, that were stacked to the brim with alcohol made its way past the Goa borders and was intercepted by the Karnataka Excise officials in Belagavi. Investigations have revealed that the truck originated from Goa and was loaded at Ponda.
Another racket busted in September this year provided details of the Goa-Gujarat illegal trade and threw up a name, Ligorio D’Souza. While the Gujarat police in coordination with Goa Police carried out investigations in Canacona, D’Souza was nowhere to be found even as he filed an anticipatory bail application in a Gujarat court. D’Souza had been earlier arrested in a similar case in 2010, proving that the racket has existed for decades.
According to the Goa Excise department, the laws for exporting liquor are clearly laid down. From submission of import requisition of the destination State to verifying every detail of the export consignment before issuing the export certificate for the consignment and border checks, the procedures are clearly laid out.
In all these transactions the Excise Inspectors play a vital role as nothing can move without their consent. For every liquor manufacturing unit, a designated Excise Inspector is responsible and therefore it is beyond comprehension that liquor can be illegally manufactured and also exported without their knowledge. Clearly the officials responsible are turning a Nelson’s Eye to illegalities taken place literally under their nose.
Liquor has been kept outside the ambit of GST and the States have been given a free hand to charge taxes applicable within the jurisdiction of the State. Taxes from liquor are a major contributor to the State’s treasury; and going by the illegal consignments apprehended thus far, the unknown revenue loss to the State is bound to run into crores of rupees.
Earlier this year, the State government was on the back-foot due to the ‘excise scam’. Department personnel were involved in illegally dishing out licences and pocketing the money, thereby affecting huge revenue losses to the State. It was only after Opposition MLAs pushed for an enquiry that the government suspended Excise Department staff and initiated an investigation and recovered the losses.
In its investigative report, O Heraldo on September 25 this year, highlighted that the Excise staff were tight-lipped due to a ‘Madam’ who has been ruling the roost of the illegal liquor trade of the State. To the extent that truck drivers informed the Excise staff that the matters have been dealt with by the ‘Madam’ and the illegalities have been transpiring without any hiccups.
It is very clear that illegalities of such a large scale cannot be carried out without the patronage of those in the corridors of power. However, the question is related to how deep-rooted the illegal liquor business is.
The Goa Government will have to act swiftly in accordance with the law. If not, then it will be proved that the present government is purposely turning a blind eye to black money and corruption.
