T.N. Prathapan Smells bid to derail liquor policy

KOCHI: The battle over the bottle in Kerala took another curious turn with Congress MLA T.N. Prathapan accusing the  Kerala State Beverages Corporation of trying to derail the government’s liquor policy  by offering discount to liquor sold through its retail outlets.

Bevco managing director Mahipal Yadav  has, however, denied it and said that certain wholesale suppliers had reduced the offer price of a few brands of liquor sold by them and that this reduction had been passed on to the consumers. “There is no discount sale as such,”  he said.

Mr Prathapan  called for the suspension of  senior officials, including the MD, of the government-controlled Bevco  and sought a probe by a senior police official under the direct supervision of  Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

“This shows the unholy nexus between liquor lobby and Bevco,”  Mr Prathapan told reporters in Thrissur on Wednesday. “I don’t think the excise minister has any role in the affair, but people will be interested in knowing his views on the subject,”  he said.

Mr. Yadav said that there was no across-the- board reduction or discounts for liquor in Bevco outlets. “The fresh quotes became effective from October 1. Since there were many dry days in the first week of this month the reduced rates came to the public only the other day,”  he pointed out.