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Karnataka BJP alleges Rs 2,500 crore bribery scam; demands excise minister’s resignation
Three Karnataka Excise Department officials were allegedly caught accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh on Saturday.
Ashok (centre) claimed that bribes were being collected through the auctioning of liquor licenses, with fixed rates for different categories. (Photo: X/@RAshokaBJP)
A day after three Excise Department officials were caught accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh, Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashok Sunday alleged a massive Rs 2,500 crore bribery scam in the Department. Contending that the money was being diverted to fund elections in Assam and Maharashtra, he demanded the resignation of Excise Minister R B Thimmapur.
Addressing a news conference, Ashok claimed that bribes were being collected through the auctioning of liquor licenses, with fixed rates for different categories. According to him, Rs 1.25 crore was charged for each CL-7 licence – amounting to Rs 1,225 crore, Rs 1.5 crore for each CL-2 licence – totalling Rs 925 crore, and Rs 92 crore for CL-9 licences. Mini-brewery licences allegedly involved Rs 2.5 crore in bribes.
“Together this adds up to Rs 2,500 crore, which is being diverted to fund elections in Assam and Maharashtra,” he alleged. This charge came after Lokayukta sleuths arrested Excise Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesh Naik, Superintendent of Excise K M Thammanna and Excise Constable Lakkappa Gani. They had reportedly demanded a bribe of Rs 80 lakh for a bar (CL-7) and microbrewery licence. They were caught red-handed while accepting Rs 25 lakh.
Ashok claimed that there was an audio clip that revealed that the bribes collected were sent to the minister or his son. He said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be held directly responsible for the scam if Thimmapur was not sacked.
He also targeted the government over the drug mafia, saying drugs were rampant even inside jails and that police officials were complicit.
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