Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Plea to rectify flaws in new `abkari' policy

Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA: The former State Planning Board member and member of the All-India Congress Committee Peelipose Thomas alleged that the Government's new abkari policy would only facilitate flourishing of the illicit liquor mafia in different parts of the State.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Mr. Thomas alleged that as per the new abkari policy, possession of arrack up to 25 litres, wash up to 100 litres and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) up to 50 litres have been categorised as minor offences.

He said the Government's new policy also fixed the penalty for all the above mentioned minor offences at Rs.10,000, besides letting the accused free from the ambit of law without even initiating prosecution against them. The new abkari policy that would come into force from April 1 was aimed at giving immunity to the illicit liquor mafia from criminal proceedings. Mr. Thomas said the new abkari policy allows Excise officials to let free the accused in minor offences after charging a penalty of Rs.10,000, ultimately widening the `scope' and magnitude of corruption.

Moreover, the provision to keep IMFL up to 50 litres would lead to mushrooming of `mini-bars' in the State. Mr. Thomas called upon the Government to rectify the flaws in the new abkari policy so that it would not weaken the arrack ban brought out by the A.K. Antony Government of 1996.

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