Vigilance Raid Exposes Corruption at Kerala Bevco Outlet
In a significant crackdown against corruption, officials from the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) conducted a late-night raid at an outlet of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation Ltd (Bevco) in Ernakulam. The operation, which began on Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday, uncovered widespread corrupt practices, including the acceptance of bribes from agents of liquor manufacturers to artificially boost sales.
Details of the Raid and Seizures
The raid targeted the Kottayi outlet of Bevco, located in Athani near Nedumbassery. Acting on confidential information that agents of liquor companies were bribing staff to promote their brands, vigilance officials arrived at the outlet around 10:30 PM on Saturday. During the inspection, they seized unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 80,150 from employees and discovered three litres of foreign liquor without any bills from the staff working at the outlet.
Officials made the staff open the storage compartments of their vehicles, recovering additional bottles. An official source revealed that the staff used unethical tactics to boost sales, such as placing products from bribing brands on visible shelves. For instance, in the case of beers, they refrigerated only the brands that had paid them, making those more appealing to customers.
Further Irregularities Uncovered
The raid exposed additional irregularities beyond the financial corruption. Two employees who were on duty at the outlet were found to be under the influence of alcohol and were subsequently subjected to medical examination. Moreover, it was discovered that two individuals were working illegally at the outlet, raising questions about employment practices and oversight.
The operation was led by Inspector N A Anoop, under the directive of Ernakulam Vigilance Unit Deputy Police Superintendent T M Varghese. Vigilance sources stated that they had been monitoring the outlet's staff for an extended period based on secret information regarding the acceptance of bribes from agents. The surprise inspection continued until early morning, ensuring a thorough investigation.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Crackdown
Vigilance officials are now investigating whether the liquor bottles found without bills were intended to be resold on the black market. This suspicion is heightened by the fact that Sunday was a holiday for liquor shops due to the mandatory holiday on the first day of every month, potentially creating an opportunity for illicit sales.
This raid is part of a broader intensification of VACB's crackdown against corrupt officials. Just a week prior, a senior clerk at the assistant labour office in Angamaly was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1,500 to renew the labour licence of a private firm. He was caught red-handed in his office by vigilance officials, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat corruption across various sectors in Kerala.
The incident underscores the challenges in regulating state-run liquor outlets and the need for stringent oversight to prevent such malpractices. As investigations continue, authorities are expected to take further action to ensure accountability and transparency in the operations of Bevco and other government entities.
