VB initiates probe into HP beverage firm’s functioning
Himachal Pradesh State Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB) has initiated a probe into the functioning of Himachal Pradesh Beverages Limited (HPBL), a corporation set up during the Congress regime for wholesale distribution of liquor to different vends across the state.
The government, in its probe orders, maintained that unauthorised distribution of liquor to select vendors had caused a loss of ₹150 crore to the state exchequer. The Congress government had allotted 54 liquor vends to vendors from neighbouring states in violation of the guidelines.
The vendors, who did not posses any experience in the wholesale business, were engaged in wholesale distribution of liquor to the vends in the state that led to increase in the liquor prices and caused loss to state exchequer, the orders read.
Inspector general of SV&ACB wing JP Singh said, “We have initiated the probe and are examining the records.”
THREE DOZEN VENDORS UNDER SCANNER
The vigilance sleuths have seized records from Mandi, Una and Hamirpur districts. It is likely that the bureau could fix responsibilities of the officers of excise and taxation department. As many as three dozen vendors are also under the scanner of the bureau.
Probe detected that selected brands were sold through the HPBL to benefit few manufacturers. The government suffered losses due to further delay in procurement and distribution to the retailers. The sleuths have also questioned the wholesalers and officials of the HPBL.
In 2017, the VB had detected that HPBL could not distribute the liquor worth Rs 25 crore from its stores as the vendors were not willing to lift the select brands purchased by the corporation.
PROBE DETECTED THAT SELECTED BRANDS WERE SOLD THROUGH THE HPBL TO BENEFIT FEW MANUFACTURERS.
2 LICENCES SUSPENDED
In June, CM Jai Ram Thakur’s cabinet had discussed the functioning of HPBL that was set up after abolishing the old policy.
The Congress government had suspended L1-D and L 13-D of the wholesale of liquor.
BJP had then questioned the decision of the Congress government to form the beverages corporation. The party leaders had alleged that the corporation was formed only to benefit certain liquor traders from Punjab.
The BJP claimed that before June 2016, the state had total 166 wholesale traders and through them, hundreds of youth were getting employment.
However in July 2016, the Congress government set up a corporation and it was through three depots across the state that liquor to the vendors was being distributed. The cabinet had recommended the winding up of the HPBL after completion of the probe and restore the old liquor policy under which the vendors can purchase liquor from different wholesales instead of HPBL.