Excise Scam: Will CM Parrikar do what

Opposition leader Parrikar wanted to?

VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Manohar Parrikar has virtually uncorked the 100 crore excise scam as leader of the Opposition. But investigations into it have been bottled. He now has a chance to begin his innings on a high, by initiating a CBI probe, as he had demanded. The point is will he and how soon?
None of the suspects involved have been punished. The then chief minister Digambar Kamat had appointed his secretary Rajiv Yaduvanshi to head the inquiry committee. Though the inquiry had been completed with several recommendations, surprisingly, none of the suggestions have been implemented nor have the findings of the report made public.

Parrikar himself had said that the scam, which involved influential bureaucrats and politicians was to the tune of Rs 100 crore. Armed with the fake receipts and real figures, Parrikar had narrated anecdote after anecdote of how Excise Department officials were involved in the illegalities. The fraud, he said, happened in connivance with the Department officials.
The scam spanned across states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and others, from where liquor distributors were sourcing liquor from Goa. The scam had attained international significance when Parrikar suspected that the money might have been used to fund terrorist networks. The Kamat Government, however, had refused the Opposition’s demand for CBI inquiry into the scam.
The contours of the scam were as follows. Several companies from outside Goa were issued fake permits to procure and move liquor in and out of the state. It involved corruption in check posts on state borders right upto, allegedly the office of commissioner of Excise in Panjim. The companies with bogus addresses were given permits by the Department. Parrikar had raised doubts about several companies including one named Asha Lanka.
Then Excise Commissioner Sandip Jacques was under attack for his alleged involvement in the controversy and was transferred out of the Department. His replacement P S Reddy, proved his mettle during election code of conduct by conducting raids resulting in huge seizures.
Parrikar needs to go to no one now. The scam stares at the Government through the files. It awaits action.