Violating rules some bidders allegedly obtain multi licenses

Violators will face penalties, cancellations: Excise Commissioner

Jammu: Few bidders have allegedly violated rules to obtain multi licenses of liquors shops under the new excise policy of Jammu and Kashmir.

The e-auction of all 228 liquor shops in which 800 persons participated ended on Monday with each location being auctioned for 72 hours. The e-auction which was held for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir has generated revenue of Rs 140 crore to the JK Excise department which is 14 times higher.

However, some people as well as outgoing licensees said that many influential persons have managed to get more than one license, some of them even in double digits, by fielding proxies.

“There are many names in the list, who have secured liquor shops, who by no means have the amount of which they have given bid to secure licenses. They are just proxies of certain influential persons,” the outgoing licensees said and demanded that the matter should be investigated.

The list accessed by The News Now reveals that the bidder Ramnik Singh gets two licenses in ward no 20 D and Jammu South Baspur having Event ID 510 and 556.

Similarly, Bidder Ranjeet Singh gets two licenses at ward no 17 A and Garkhal Panchyat at Kathua having Event ID 566 and 587 respectively while bidder Amit Kumar Chowdhary gets two licenses at ward no 51 and 69 having Event ID 365 and 433.

They alleged that the bidders in contravention of the bidding rules made bid on two licenses with impunity, adding proxies have also played important role in the bidding process.

They further alleged that the bidding was also closed three minutes before the allotted time.

Speaking on allegations, the Jammu and Kashmir excise commissioner Rahul Sharma said “Chances are there but it will be ascertained at the time of verification and tender documents have penalties on that situation.”

On being asked that should not it be cancelled and bidding again, the Excise Commissioner said that the tender document has provision of such situation.