TIRUPATI: The recent raids by AntiCorruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths on several liquor syndicate offices across the state exposed many unethical practices in the liquor business.In Chittoor district, there are 458 liquor shops under the purview of Tirupati and Chittoor excise superintendents. The government earned a revenue of `304 crore against the target of `167 crore during the auction in 2010, which shows the confidence levels of liquor dealers that they will get their huge investments back along with good profits.After successful bids at high stakes, liquor shop owners, in order to get back their investments, override all norms and guidelines and 25 to 40 percent in excess of MRP. They bribe officials and fleece customers.According to the Tirupati ACB officials, there are two liquor syndicates functioning in Srikalahasthi and Palamaner.The modus operandi is that likeminded liquor shop owners first come together and form a syndicate and decide on liquor prices. They gather all earnings from all the shops under the syndicate and share them based on their investments.They also allocate some money for bribing influential persons in the area.As for as Tirupati town is concerned, though liquor is being sold at high prices, liquor shop owners, it is said, have not formed any syndicate and are fixing their own prices in their respective shops.However, a syndicatelike operation is witnessed as all the shops are selling liquor at almost comparable prices, which are higher than the MRP.Meanwhile, giving a political touch to the issue, TDP activists staged a dharna outside the excise office here on Monday demanding that authorities take necessary steps to tackle liquor syndicates.They also criticised the government for choosing liquor business for revenue generation and accused it of playing havoc with public health as well as wealth by setting up liquor shops in every nook and corner of the state.
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