Excise Dept suspects Loliem liquor plant has inter-State links
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA JULY 19
With the seizure of over Rs 20 lakh worth of liquor from an illegally operating manufacturing and packaging unit at Shelim-Loliem on Saturday, there are strong speculations that the illegal operations could have links to several States in the country.
Sources in the Excise Department had admitted that if only the seized quantity of processed liquor and raw alcohol is taken into consideration, a whopping Rs 10 lakh worth of excise taxes had been evaded by the illegal operators.
The sources further disclosed that the tax evasion could run into several crores of rupees, given the information that the operations at the unit were in existence for about 4-5 years.
Sources also informed Herald that the tentacles of these illegal operations is limited not only to one state of Karnataka as was originally believed, but the network reportedly has connections in several other states, where such consignments have a huge demand, given the cost of legal consignments in some states.
It is learnt that even a native from Kerala, operating a different unit in the taluka, used to enjoy close rapport with the operator of the illegally running manufacturing and packaging liquor unit at Shelli- Loliem, and was said to be actively trafficking large consignments to his home state.
A local wholesale liquor dealer, speaking to Herald on condition of anonymity, said: “We used to meet the requirement of several stakeholders beyond the state’s borders in neighbouring Karnataka. But since the last 3-4 years, there was no significant movement of our stocks, compelling us to restrict our demands with original brand suppliers.”
Meanwhile, the prime accused and the alleged kingpin of massive illegal liquor manufacturing and packaging unit is still at large, as excise officials have been unable to track him down.
