Dark Side of Liquor Trade
D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, May 20: The liquor business of ANIIDCO always invites controversies and allegations. Now reports are coming out that Diglipur’s ANIIDCO Unit is allegedly earning huge amount of easy money every month, just as commission, from local Bar Owners.
Earlier, Andaman Sheekha had reported about the practice of some Wine Shop Staffs to charge Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 extra on every bottle and also reported that how this money is passed to higher level.
In North Andaman’s ANIIDCO liquor scam, some employees play simple trick to earn huge profit as commission. According to reports in areas, outside Port Blair, including, North Andaman region, all the Bar Owners are allotted a quota of liquor every month by ANIIDCO. This quota is fixed and decided by the ANIIDCO, which is 5 – 6 times less than the actual requirement of the Bar Owners. Hence for rest quota they have to approach the ANIIDCO again and during this time the Bar Owners are allegedly asked to pay commission. The commission amount is fixed and followed religiously by ANIIDCO, which is Rs. 300 per carton of liquor (12 bottles) and Rs. 50 per carton of Beer (12 bottles). Those who refuse to pay the amount often do not get the rest quantity of liquor on time.
After getting commission, the process of issuing liquor (even excess quantity of liquor) becomes easy for Bar Owners. Staffs of ANIIDCO’s Diglipur unit issue a fake bill to the Bar Owner, so that in case of police raid the Bar Owner could show the Bill and escape and after the consignment of liquor reaches the concerned Bar, the fake bill is taken back by the ANIIDCO staff and another original bill is issued for lower quantity of liquor.
Andaman Sheekha has one such fake bill, which can be easily examined by investigating agencies.
“Bar owners’ problems do not end here. Even after paying commission the Bar Owners have to carry their own consignment to their Bar. In Port Blair the ANIIDCO drops liquor cartons to every bar but in remote areas like Diglipur, Bar Owners has to pay extra for transportation. Moreover, those who pay extra commission get additional quota of liquor,” said a Bar Owner of Diglipur, who does not want his name to be quoted.
The important part is that when in Port Blair the process of issuing liquor is simple why in areas, outside Port Blair, the process is made so confusing?
When contacted the General Manger of ANIIDCO, Mohammed Pervez rubbished all these allegations.
“Nothing of that sort happens in North Andaman but when the matter has now been brought in our notice we will examine this matter. Moreover, the system is being changed by us. Now the Bar Owners of North and Middle Andaman will have to send their requirement to us directly and as per the requirement we will issue the liquor to them. In this new system there won’t be any room for commission,” Mohd. Parvez added.
He said that his office had received a few complaints from Bar Owners of North Andaman in past regarding lack of liquor stock at Diglipur.
However the Bar Owners of North Andaman allege that less stock of liquor in North and Middle Andaman means, high demand of liquor, which indirectly means more commission for some staffs of ANIIDCO.
“Why ANIIDCO is not building godowns in North Andaman on Priority. Because Godowns are not there, ANIIDCO does not maintain sufficient stock at North Andaman, which results in shortage in supply,” said a Bar Owner.
