Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: Shiv Sena (UBT) has alleged liquor mafia loot in J&K as wine shops are overcharging openly while J&K administration is acting as mute spectator.
“The blatant extortion being carried out by the liquor mafia in Jammu Kashmir and the silent spectator attitude of the Excise and Police administration forces to think that this extortion and big scam is being carried out in collusion with each other,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) J&K unit chief Manish Sahni while addressing a press conference, here today.
While elaborating, he said that several liquor sellers in J&K were charging prices higher than the MRP. By charging Rs 10-50 extra on every sale, illegal collection of lakhs of rupees daily and crores of rupees per month is being made at the behest of which power and in which accounts is a matter of deep investigation, he added.
Sahni said that despite the Excise Department’s provision of imposing a heavy fine of up to Rs 40,000 and cancellation of license for charging more than the fixed price, this illegal collection is being done rampantly.
He said that despite dozens of complaints to the police, Excise Department and several stings by media persons, the license of not even a single liquor seller involved in the illegal collection racket has been cancelled. This shows that the scam is being carried out in connivance with some corrupt officials of the concerned departments, he alleged.
“Lieutenant Governor of J&K always claims corruption-free administration and deployment of honest officers, but some officials of the Excise and Police Department are question mark on such claims,” he said and appealed Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir to expose this scam with a thorough investigation. Sahni also appealed to the public not to pay more than the MRP.
The Shiv Sena General Secretary Vikas Bakshi, Vice President Balwant Singh, President Kamghar Raj Singh, Secretary Rakesh Handa were present in the press conference.
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