₹20,903 crore earned through alcohol sale in eight months; memos not issued for shortfall in liquor sale: Telangana Excise Minister

Telangana Government denies issuing memos to Excise officials for liquor sales shortfall. Excise Minister speaks about crack down on unauthorized sales.

Telangana Government has refuted the charge that it has issued memos to the Excise officials for shortfall in liquor sales.

Prohibition and Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said though there was no definition for “belt shops” in the Excise Act, unauthorised sale of liquor in villages is being dealt with by the Excise department in accordance with the Excise laws from time to time. He was replying to a query by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) members during the Question Hour in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday (December 16, 2024).

The Minister said a total of 6,915 cases were booked for unauthorised sale of liquor between January and November this year and 6,728 persons were arrested. The department seized 74,425 litres of liquor as also 353 vehicles in the process.

On the revenue front, he said the department earned revenue of ₹20,903 crore; ₹10,295.58 crore excise revenue and ₹10,607.55 crore through value added tax during the first eight months of the current financial year. At the same time, it was organising awareness meetings against ill effects of alcoholism and substance abuse in coordination with local stakeholders. A total of 735 meetings involving 375 sarpanches, 127 municipal chairpersons and ward members and 233 educational institutions were held in the high risk areas during the current year so far.