No delay in suspending bar licence of of Fort Kochi-based hotel, says Excise

The Excise department has shot down allegations of delay in suspending the bar licence of the Fort Kochi-based hotel No 18 where the victims of the Chakkaraparambu accident had attended a late-night p

The Excise department has shot down allegations of delay in suspending the bar licence of the Fort Kochi-based hotel No 18 where the victims of the Chakkaraparambu accident had attended a late-night party on October 31, just hours before speeding their way to death.

The department had served the hotel a notice on October 23, more than a week before the said party, for serving liquor beyond the permissible time of 9 p.m. However, the bar licence was suspended only on November 2, a day after the fatal accident. The department claimed that there was no delay, and that only normal time was taken for the completion of formalities.

The Excise Circle Inspector concerned had to submit a report to the Deputy Excise Commissioner who in turn had to forward it to the Excise Commissioner, as the latter alone is authorised to suspend the licence. The order suspending the licence came from the Excise Commissionerate in the evening of November 1, which, incidentally, was a dry day. It was served by the Excise Circle Inspector concerned the very next day, sources said.