CBI probing into revenue loss in Excise Department: Bedi

Puducherry, May 6 () Territorial Lieutenant GovernorKiran Bedi on Wednesday said the Central Bureau ofInvestigation (CBI) has taken up investigation into organisedcrime causing wrongful loss of revenue to Excise departmentof Puducherry administration.In a whatsapp message, the former IPS officer said asmany as 236 cases were registered during the ongoing lockdownby the local police under the Excise Act resulting in thesuspension of 100 liquor licences. She said a few officers of the Excise department and thepolice department were arrested, suspended and there was alsotransfer of some police officers. Moreover, a senior Deputy Commissioner of Excise wasreplaced, she said. The Deputy Commissioner of Excise was transferred on April21 close on the heels of the arrest of a Deputy Tahsildar andfour others for their alleged illegal sale of liquor duringthe COVID-19 lockdown. Considering the scale of organised crime causing wrongfulloss of revenue to the Exchequer in the form of excise duty,the CBI has registered a case and is investigating into thecrimes and irregularities committed during the lockdown.Bedi appealed to the people to furnish information to the CBIbranch in Puducherry to facilitate the agency to hold theprobe. She asked the people also to inform the Chief GrievancesOfficer Bascarane in her office using his whatsapp number95005 60001. CORNVG NVG