The Karnataka Wine Merchants’ Association has accused the state Excise Department of a major scam worth ₹6,000 crore. The association claims that the irregularities took place over the last two years under the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.
According to the association, there have been serious issues in the way the Excise Department has been functioning. They allege corruption and financial mismanagement that has caused huge losses to wine merchants and the government.
To raise their concerns, the association said it plans to write to senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, asking them to look into the matter and take action. They hope that the party’s top leaders will order a proper investigation.
However, Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur has strongly denied these claims. He said there is no scam in the department and questioned the basis of the allegations. The minister added that the accusations are baseless and not supported by any proof.
The issue has now sparked a debate, with merchants demanding clarity while the government maintains that everything is being handled properly.