Thiruvananthapuram, 03 Nov (H.S.):

The Kerala Excise Department has been embroiled in a fresh controversy following allegations that Excise Commissioner Sambasiva Rao granted licences to two new bars at the domestic lounge of Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery without informing the state government or Excise Minister M. Liju.

According to documents that have surfaced, the two licences were issued on June 22, 2026, within a minute of each other, raising questions over the speed and transparency of the approval process.

The documents reportedly emerged during proceedings before the Central Administrative Tribunal involving suspended Excise Deputy Commissioners from Kottayam and Ernakulam.

The principal allegation is that the Excise Commissioner approved the licences without bringing either the applications or the subsequent procedures to the government’s attention.

Sources indicated that Excise Minister M. Liju is deeply dissatisfied with the development, particularly as the approvals were granted before the announcement of the state’s revised liquor policy.

The controversy has also revived questions about several other bar licences allegedly cleared within unusually short periods.

In Muvattupuzha, an application submitted on June 23 was reportedly approved the following day. Another application filed in Ernakulam on June 25 received approval on June 29.

Similarly, a bar licence application submitted in Kottayam on September 29 was reportedly cleared on October 3.

Sources said the department is examining whether retired officials or other influential individuals played any role in facilitating these approvals.

The repeated controversies have reportedly caused considerable embarrassment to the government, with concerns emerging over senior officials taking decisions on sensitive policy matters without consulting the political leadership.

Amid growing dissatisfaction within the government, sources indicated that the administration could consider transferring Excise Commissioner Sambasiva Rao.

However, no official decision regarding his removal has been announced, and the allegations surrounding the licensing process remain to be independently established.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman