Govt will revisit excise rules, Karnataka minister tells legislative assembly
Belagavi, Dec 5: Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur on Tuesday said rules for issuing liquor licences to hotels and boarding houses will be revisited, with ruling Congress legislators in the Assembly alleging that there are large-scale irregularities in the process.
The minister announced the decision during the Question Hour, responding to a question raised by Bangarpet MLA S N Narayanaswamy, who sought details on the process being followed to sanction such licences (CL-7) in Kolar district.
Noting that about 70 per cent of the rules are not being followed, Narayanaswamy cited an example of CL-7 licence sanctioned to a hotel business with just 9x7 feet space for vehicle parking.
He also charged excise superintendent Rangappa with issuing CL-7 licence indiscriminately, and even alleged that the latter was also a partner in every business for which he issued the licence.
Congress MLA from Kolar district's Malur, K Y Nanjegowda said the issue of CL-7 licence is "big business", while another ruling party legislator from Sagar Gopala Krishna Belur termed it a scam worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore, and demanded an investigation.
With Narayanaswamy and other Congress legislators alleging that rules were being flouted, Timmapur said 18 documents or certificates are needed by the government to sanction the CL-7 licence.
He said, there are 2,465 CL-7 licence holders in the state, including 56 in Kolar.
During the debate, some Congress MLAs also sought to allege that irregularities took place when the BJP was in power, prompting the then Excise Minister K Gopalaiah to deny the charge, and challenge the government to get it probed.
Intervening, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said, "Be it our government or some other, let there be an investigation, and let such licences be cancelled."
Timmapur, acknowledging the flaws, noted that the law is not specific when it comes to parking space and the design of rooms or lodges, and specifications will be introduced in the days to come.
Regarding allegations made against Rangappa, the minister assured the House that he will seek a report and take action.
Meanwhile, Malavalli Congress MLA P M Narendraswamy urged the government to introduce reservations in excise licences, to which the minister said the law needed to be amended.
However, BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar and Ashoka said the number of liquor shops should not be increased in the name of reservation.
"We have no problem if you want to provide reservation, but don't increase the number of liquor shops," Ashoka said, pointing out that during his recent visit to Doddaballapura, he found liquor being sold in a general store, and urged the government not to make more people drink.
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Kerala: Court imposes 41-year jail term on man for sexual assault of minor
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): A Kerala court on Wednesday sentenced a man to 41 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor boy near Valayam in 2021.
Nadapuram Fast Track Special Court judge K Naushad Ali sentenced 64-year-old Panchara Musa, also known as Ganapathiyat Musa, under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), according to special public prosecutor Manoj Aroor.
As the sentences are to run concurrently, the convict will have to serve the highest term of 20 years’ imprisonment, SPP Aroor said. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 52,000 on Musa.
The incident took place in August 2021 when the accused allegedly took the 14-year-old boy to a bus stop in Valayam town and sexually assaulted him, the prosecutor said. The accused also gave Rs 50 to the boy, he added.
Following the incident, the boy and his father lodged a complaint at the Valayam police station.
A case under various provisions of the POCSO Act and the IPC was registered, and the accused was subsequently arrested, the SPP said.
The prosecution examined 16 witnesses and submitted 16 documents to substantiate its case against the accused, he added.
