India
Former Excise Commissioner Accuses Senior Officials of Corruption in Detailed Report
The former Kerala Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao, who was relieved from his post on Friday, submitted a detailed report to the state government alleging serious corruption by two senior Excise officials. The report names Joint Excise Commissioner S. Vinod and Deputy Commissioner Ajay, accusing them of collecting regular bribes from bar owners and amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. It recommends their immediate removal from field postings and a vigilance investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The report also notes that Excise Minister M. Liju is a close acquaintance of the Roma Center Bar in Kayamkulam, though it does not specify the nature of the relationship. According to the report, Vinod allegedly maintained close ties with the owner of Ganga Bar in Muvattupuzha, acted as an intermediary in licence matters, and received ₹50,000 from the bar. Ajay is accused of accepting bribes from the owner of Roma Centre Bar at Kattachira during official inspections. The report calls for a detailed investigation into the officials’ alleged regular illicit payments, disproportionate asset accumulation, and benami transactions, and urges that they be shifted to non‑field assignments pending further action. It also urges enhanced surveillance and monitoring of officials in sensitive positions to prevent corruption and ensure transparency in the department. The state government had earlier decided to remove Rao from his post a few days after Minister Liju publicly expressed disapproval of a bar licence granted to a lounge at Cochin airport, despite the government’s objection to a similar application. Published – November 07, 2026 11:51 am IST