Babus back to being cosy with booze traders

KARIMNAGAR: Dealings between excise officials and liquor traders are back to being cosy in Karimnagar district after the initial flurry of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raids to rein in the booze mafia.In the early enthusiasm, ACB personnel cracked down on some wine shops making illegal sales or selling booze higher than the maximum retail price (MRP).  But things have gone back to what they were since then.When contacted, excise officials say liquor sales have been streamlined in the district and that the practice of selling above MRP has ended.  But traders have returned to selling liquor for 4 per cent more than MRP.ACB authorities seized files relating to the liquor trade from the excise superintendents’ offices in Karimnagar and  Godavarikhani nearly a month ago hoping to detect any benamis licence holders but their findings have not yet been made public. No other action has been taken on illegal sales by booze vends or bribery practised by liquor syndicates.Traders are back to reviving their links with excise officials. One of them, a kingpin of the trade in Karimnagar district, has been seen visiting the excise superintendent’s office here three to four times a week.  Liquor traders have unrestricted access to excise offices in the district, including the computer sections where data relating to licence holders is kept.