Latest news with #AbkariAct
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Distilleries liable to pay full pay to excise officers deputed to their manufacturing units: Kerala HC
A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has held that private distilleries are liable to pay full pay and additional allowances of excise officers deputed to supervise manufacturing of liquor at their distilleries as cost of establishment to the State government. The Bench led by Justice Anil K. Narendran made the observation recently while allowing the appeals filed by the State government against the ruling of a single judge's verdict that only the additional allowance and not full pay of the officers needs to be paid to the government. The single judge's order came on writ petitions filed by the private distilleries which sell their products to the the Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation challenging the collection of full pay. Senior government pleader Vinitha B. submitted that under the provisions of the Abkari Act, the Kerala Distillery and Warehouse Rules 1968, Foreign Liquor (Storage in bond) Rules 1961 and Kerala Rectified Spirit Rules 1972, the State government is authorised to depute excise officials for supervising activities and the cost for deputing such officers has to be borne by the distilleries. She also pointed out that as per the licence conditions, the distilleries are bound to pay the actual cost payable to the officer deputed. Therefore, the distilleries could not take the stand that only the charge allowance would be paid under section 53(b) of part I of Kerala Service Rules. Besides, the charge allowance was actually the one payable under Section 53(b) between the State government and its employees. The court observed that payment of establishment cost is one of the license conditions for granting the privilege of manufacturing intoxicating liquor. The court noted that there are no permanent cadre posts created for the supervisory functions of distilleries. The officers are deployed by the government. Therefore, private distilleries cannot contend that they are liable to pay only the charge allowance for the additional duty of an officer deputed to supervise the distilleries.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Time of India
Man arrested with 150 litres of wash in Kuttampuzha
Kochi: Excise department in Aluva arrested a 34-year-old man after seizing 150 litres of wash and distillation equipment used for brewing illicit liquor from a house in Kuttampuzha on Friday. The seizure was made from a house in Mamalakkandam, Kuttampuzha arrested person was identified as Anish. He was arrested under Section 55(g) of Abkari Act and a case was registered against him at Kuttampuzha excise range office. Officials stated that the wash was intended for producing and distributing illicit liquor to homestays in Mamalakkandam team included assistant excise inspector grade Aji Agustin, preventive officers grade Shameer VA, Dedu VC and civil excise officer Naini Mohan.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Time of India
Tainted ex-RTO booked for financial fraud
Kochi: Ernakulam Central police on Friday registered a cheating case against former Ernakulam regional transport officer (RTO) TM Jerson , who was arrested in a corruption case in Feb this year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The FIR was registered following a court direction. The case was registered based on the complaint of Al Ameen, 21, against Jerson and his wife Riya Jerson. According to the FIR, the complainant's mother was running a textile unit at Ernakulam North. The accused, who used to visit the shop, befriended the victims and suggested forming an establishment through which garments could be sold in bulk. The complainant stated that the accused offered high returns if they invested in such a project. The accused then started a wholesale garment shop in Ernakulam Market and between July 2022 and May 2023, the accused sourced garments worth Rs 75 lakh from them. However, they allegedly did not pay them. The complainant also alleged that when he went to the shop to collect the amount, the accused threatened him. The complainant then approached the court, which in turn directed the police to register a case. The case has been registered under sections 406, 420, 506 read with 34 of the IPC. The vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) had arrested Jerson along with two suspected aides in Feb for alleged bribery. Police also registered a separate case under the Abkari Act after discovering large quantities of liquor at his house in Edappally. The case is for storing liquor beyond the permissible limit. VACB had handed over the seized bottles to the police. Vigilance also found that Jerson allegedly owned four properties and had investments worth more than Rs 80 lakh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now VACB is conducting a probe to find the source of these assets and whether he amassed disproportionate wealth. Jerson claimed that his assets were family wealth as well as properties purchased by his wife, who is a dentist by profession. Officials are investigating the assets in the name of his close family as well.
New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- New Indian Express
16 women among 497 repeat drug offenders in Kerala
KOCHI: With increasing reports of women's involvement in drug peddling across Kerala, the excise department has intensified surveillance on 16 women included in the list of repeat offenders in narcotics cases. They have been placed under regular monitoring as part of a broader crackdown on habitual offenders under the NDPS and Abkari Acts. According to excise officials, a total of 497 individuals across the state are currently in the repeat offenders list for multiple violations of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Among them, 16 are women, each involved in two to 11 drug-peddling cases. The highest number of NDPS cases has been registered against a woman from Palakkad. 'We have been maintaining this list for the past few years to closely track down those repeatedly caught with ganja and synthetic drugs,' a senior excise officer said. 'Though there are fewer women than men in the list, many are being used as carriers by drug rackets. Our teams frequently contact these individuals, monitor their residence and verify their current occupation,' the officer said. 8,160 NDPS cases registered last year Region-wise, the list includes six women from Kollam, three from Palakkad, two each from Thrissur and Kottayam, and one each from Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. Notably, there are no women from Ernakulam in the list, despite the district consistently reporting the highest number of narcotics cases annually. In 2023 and 2024, the excise department registered 8,104 and 8,160 NDPS cases, respectively, across Kerala. In addition, 20 women are in the repeat offenders' list for cases under the Abkari Act, which pertains to illegal alcohol production and distribution. Of them, nine women are from Kollam, three from Thiruvananthapuram, two each from Alappuzha and Palakkad, and one each from Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod. The total number of repeat offenders under the Abkari Act stands at 500. Excise officials said some women's names appear in both lists. 'There are three women from Kollam who have been booked under both NDPS and Abkari Acts. Their involvement was found in both drug peddling and illicit brewing operations for financial gain. We are considering invoking stringent measures, including slapping of provisions under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act, against repeated offenders,' the officer added. Repeat women offenders in Abkari cases Kollam: 9 Thiruvananthapuram: 3 Alappuzha: 2 Palakkad: 2 Pathanamthitta: 1 Wayanad: 1 Kannur: 1 Kasaragod: 1 Total: 20
