# Kerala Excise Official Alleges Corruption Involving Minister and Senior Staff Former Commissioner reports bribery schemes and ministerial links before his sudden transfer. - **Source:** [The Hindu – National](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/84910c95-c640-45c5-97e8-9f97bf8cd405 ## Commissioner Submits Corruption Report Former Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao submitted a formal report to the Kerala government alleging systemic corruption within the Excise Department. The document highlights illicit financial activities involving senior officials and bar owners. Shortly after filing these serious claims, Mr. Rao was transferred from his position to a different department. ## Specific Bribery Allegations Detailed The report identifies Joint Excise Commissioner S. Vinod and Deputy Commissioner Ajay as key figures in the alleged bribery schemes. Officials reportedly demanded monthly payments of 30,000 rupees from bar owners. Additionally, payments of 50,000 rupees were allegedly collected for securing approvals related to bar operating timings and license extensions. ## Ministerial Connections Under Scrutiny Mr. Rao’s report explicitly mentions that Excise Minister M. Liju was acquainted with a bar owner involved in these transactions. The document suggests that the Minister’s personal connections may have influenced the department's operations. These claims have sparked significant political debate regarding the integrity of the current state administration. ## Opposition Demands Clear Answers CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan has publicly alleged that the report points directly to the Minister's involvement in the corruption. He claims the Minister must provide a transparent explanation regarding his links to the accused officials. The opposition party is now pressuring the government to address these serious accusations. ## Protest Through Sudden Departure Observers noted that Mr. Rao left his official vehicle behind and departed in an autorickshaw following his transfer. This unusual exit is widely interpreted as a silent protest against the government's decision to remove him. The move occurred immediately after he attempted to address the corruption within his department. ## Recommended Administrative Actions Mr. Rao recommended the immediate removal of the accused officials from field postings to prevent further misconduct. He suggested transferring them to administrative roles like the Excise Crime Records Bureau. Furthermore, he urged the government to initiate a formal Vigilance inquiry under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. ## Proposed Institutional Reforms The report advocates for stricter controls on appointing officials to sensitive locations to curb financial irregularities. Mr. Rao proposed that future transfers at the Joint and Deputy Commissioner levels should be based on formal reports from the Excise Commissioner. These measures aim to restore accountability and transparency within the state department. ## Current Status of Allegations As of November 7, 2026, Minister M. Liju and the implicated bar owners have not provided an official response to the allegations. The government has yet to announce a formal investigation into the claims made by the former commissioner. The situation remains a developing point of contention in Kerala politics. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/ex-keralam-excise-commissioner-flags-corruption-bribery-in-report-to-govt-cpim-alleges-ministers-involvement/article71677415.ece — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._