TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: His job is to ensure that booze bottles do not flow freely to entice voters during elections. But apparently taking advantage of his position as an inspector, this excise official, according to a complaint received by the Election Commission of India (ECI), was allegedly taking away expensive liquor bottles and threatening wine traders to register cases against them under the Model code of Conduct if they didn’t comply.
Mapusa Excise Inspector Raman Fatarperkar appeared before an inquiry panel to answer allegations that he threatened to register fake cases against wine traders them under the electoral code.
The inquiry was initiated following a complaint lodged by the Goa Liquor Traders Association (GLTA) that Raman Fatarpekar was harassing wholesalers.
On the first day of the inquiry the accused officer and the complainant’s statements were video-recorded.
GLTA has accused Fatarpekar of harassing a Calangute wine store owner Suryakant Deukar, for merely asking the government officer to make payment for cashew nuts he ‘picked up’ from the store on December 15, 2011.
“On December 15, 2011, the wine store was inspected and there was no illegality found. The inspector left the premise after collecting cashew nuts packets without making any payment. On December 27, Deukar went to his office at Mapusa asking for the pending payment but this angered the officer,” said sources.
The inspector then allegedly began harassing Deukar and his workers and on the New Year eve, December 31, 2011, Fatarpekar allegedly confiscated IMFL bottles in the absence of the owner and without conducting panchanama.
The complaint copy further alleges that the inspector peeled off the labels from the liquor bottles and threatened to book Deukar for indulging in illegal trade of liquor.
Sources said, the victim has submitted all the required papers including the excise and transportation documents as evidence.
Excise Commissioner P S Reddy has called for the inquiry report within four days. Speaking to Herald, Reddy said the department hasn’t given a clean chit to the accused officer until completion of the inquiry.
“I have directed my senior officer to conduct a thorough inquiry…I have not given a clean chit to him (Fatarpekar). I will personally scrutinize the final report before dispatching it to the Election Commission,” Reddy informed. However, Reddy stated stated that the credibility of the complainants also needs to be verified.
“We will not shy away from taking action into any complaints…we need to check the credibility of complainants as well. Out of 100 cases, it is bound that in one such case, allegations would crop up,” he stated.
Reacting to charges against excise officials, Reddy said, “My instructions to all the officers are very clear. They should be impartial, not to misuse position and their overall duty should strictly be as per the rules. Necessary action will be taken if this is not abided by.”
The excise department is on a raiding spree at suspicious locations and officials are maintaining daily checks on the production, distribution and sale of liquors at all stores.
