Complaints raised against excise officials over forcing people to purchase liquor from outlet of their choice

According to rules, the duty of SHOs was only to inspect the application venue and recommend the local Excise Superintendent to grant permission, but these officials were contacting the applicants and forcing them to buy liquor from certain liquor shops falling under their jurisdiction

Hyderabad: People applying for permission to hold private parties and events to serve liquor to their guests are facing harassment from local excise officials as the latter are allegedly forcing them to purchase liquor from their choice of liquor outlets.

According to rules, the duty of SHOs was only to inspect the application venue and recommend the local Excise Superintendent to grant permission, but these officials were contacting the applicants and forcing them to buy liquor from certain liquor shops falling under their jurisdiction.

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It is alleged that certain excise department officials in areas like Serilingampally and Shamshabad have been demanding the applicants to buy liquor only from the liquor outlet suggested by them or are threatening to create problems, including registering cases.

“Excise officials duty is only to grant permission, but certain officials were forcing the people organising parties and events to purchase liquor from their choice of liquor outlets. If a person refuses to purchase liquor from the outlets suggested by the officials, they will arrive at the venue and create trouble for the host and guests. Such practices have to be stopped. Once a person has taken the permission he should be allowed to buy liquor from a shop of his choice, ” Telangana Wine Dealers’ Association president D Venkateshwar Rao said.

Sources say such practices were not at this scale during the previous government and that after the Congress came to power, the harassment of excise officials has increased.

Telangana Wine Dealer’s Association members have already brought the issue to the notice of the higher authorities of the Excise Department in this regard, Venkateshwar Rao informed.

People are complaining that they were paying over Rs.12,000 to get permission to organise parties at their home and function halls, but due to the interference of the excise officials, they were not able to enjoy the occasion.

“If you don’t purchase liquor from the shop suggested by them, they will reach the venue much before the deadline and start creating problems. Many people fearing harassment do as they say,” said a function hall owner.