Page 2 - Liquor

Andhra Pradesh liquor scam accused Balaji Govindappa arrested in Mysore

The Andhra Pradesh Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the charges of Rs 3,200 crore liquor scam that had allegedly taken place during the previous YSRCP regime in the state has arrested an accused in the case, Balaji Govindappa, in Mysore on Tuesday, said an official. Govindappa is one of the several accused in the case. "Govindappa has been arrested in Mysore today," the official confirmed to PTI. He is an executive director at Bharati Cement Pvt Ltd. According to a source, SIT officials searched Govindappa's residence in Hyderabad three days ago, followed by his arrest today. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering case with regard to the alleged liquor scam. The ED case stems from a September 2024 FIR of the Economic Offences CID of the state police. In the recent remand report of Kasireddy Raja Sekhar Reddy, the prime accused in the alleged liquor scam, the SIT has named several people who allegedly played a key role between 2019 a

No liquor to be sold in Madhya Pradesh's religious cities starting today

A ban on liquor in 19 religious cities and areas under select gram panchayats in Madhya Pradesh, including Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Maihar, came into effect on Tuesday. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described it as a "historic step towards de-addiction". The CM had announced the liquor ban decision and it was approved by the cabinet on January 24 at its meeting held in Maheshwar town, a place closely associated with legendary medieval-era queen Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. According to the decision, all liquor shops and bars will be closed down in the entire urban limits of Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, Panna, Mandla, Multai, Mandsaur and Amarkantak and in the gram panchayat limits of Salkanpur, Kundalpur, Bandakpur, Barmankalan, Barmankhurd and Linga, an official said. The BJP government has declared these 19 urban and rural areas as "completely sacred", and imposed a total ban on liquor under their jurisdiction. Yadav in a ..

AAP announces protests across UP over liquor stores offering 'free alcohol'

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said it will hold statewide protests across Uttar Pradesh on March 29 over reports of liquor stores in the state offering "free alcohol'. Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming that while the Delhi government faced allegations and central agency probes over its excise policy, no one was questioning the UP government over such deals being offered by liquor stores. The UP government is yet to react to AAP's allegations. Reportedly, liquor stores across many cities in the state are offering huge discounts and deals to clear out the stocks before a new excise policy comes into effect in the state on April 1. The store owners have been claiming that they will suffer huge losses if they don't clear the old stock before the date. "In Delhi, our government stopped such practices, yet we were targeted with allegations and subjected to ED and CBI inquiries. But in UP, the BJP is providing free

BJP alleges Rs 1,000-crore liquor scam in Tamil Nadu, DMK calls it baseless

The BJP has accused the Tamil Nadu government of a Rs 1,000-crore liquor scam, but the DMK has denied the charges, calling them baseless

ED raids Bhupesh Baghel's son, others in Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam'

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday raided premises linked to the son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel and others in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state, official sources said. The premises of Chaitanya Baghel in Bhillai and some other persons in the state are being searched under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier said the Chhattisgarh liquor "scam" resulted in "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of proceeds of crime. The ED had arrested a number of persons, including state government bureaucrats and businessmen, in this case.

Radico Khaitan expects Rs 500 cr sales from luxury brands in FY26: MD

Encouraged by the ongoing premiumisation in the alcoholic beverage (alcobev) segment, Radico Khaitan expects sales of Rs 500 crore from its luxury brands, including single malt 'Rampur' and Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, in the next fiscal, its Managing Director Abhishek Khaitan said. The company expects an 8-9 per cent volume growth, and value growth of around "12-15 per cent", Khaitan told PTI, adding "this year has been a good year for us, and hopefully next year should be much better." For the next fiscal, he said, "We expect the same thing, our premium PNA category (Prestige & above) should grow more than 15 per cent and we should be close to overall double-digit growth." Radico Khaitan's luxury portfolio consists of Rampur Indian Single Malt, Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, Sangam World Malt and Spirit of Victory 1999 Pure Malt. "For the first time in Q3 (December quarter) we achieved a turnover of Rs 100 crore (from premium) and for the nine months of FY'24, we have achieved Rs ..

CAG cites irregularities in Delhi liquor policy, referred to PAC for probe

The CAG report on the Delhi liquor policy has been referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for examination, with the committee expected to submit its report within three months, assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said Thursday. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the regulation and supply of liquor in Delhi has highlighted serious irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Following discussions in the assembly, the report has been referred to the PAC for a detailed probe, with findings expected within three months. Gupta made the announcement, stating that the matter required urgent attention due to the financial losses incurred by the government. The audit, conducted for the period between 2017 and 2021, pointed to significant lapses in the licensing process, pricing mechanisms, and regulatory oversight. It alleged that the policy led to substantial revenue losses, benefiting private companies at the exp

MP bans liquor in religious cities, introduces 'Low Alcoholic Beverage Bar'

The policy has also approved a new category, 'Low Alcoholic Beverage Bar', under which beer, wine, and ready-to-drink liquor with an alcohol content of 10 per cent or less will be served

Govt cuts import duty on bourbon whiskey to 50% amid US trade talks

India has slashed import duty on bourbon whiskey to 50 per cent as it warmed up to negotiating a mega trade deal with the US. The reduction in customs duty on bourbon whiskey was notified on February 13 just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with US President Donald Trump. However, there has been no reduction in basic customs duty on import of other liquors. They would continue to attract 100 per cent duty. The US is the primary exporter to bourbon whiskey to India accounting for about one-fourth of all such liquor imported into India. As per the notification issued by the Department of Revenue, bourbon whiskey would now attract 50 per cent customs duty on its import. It was 150 per cent earlier. India has imported bourbon whiskey worth USD 2.5 million in 2023-24. The major exporting countries include the US (USD 0.75 million), UAE (USD 0.54 million), Singapore (USD 0.28 million) and Italy (USD 0.23 million). India and the US have resolved to more than double the two

WATCH: Anna Hazare slams Kejriwal as AAP falls behind BJP in Delhi polls

Delhi election results 2025: Reacting to early poll trends, which showed BJP leading in over 40 seats, Anna Hazare expressed his disappointment in Arvind Kejriwal's leadership

Allied Blenders plans three luxury brands for larger market share

The company also announced its acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in Good Barrel distillery, which produced Rock Paper rum, thus foraying into a new category

Madhya Pradesh govt to ban sale of liquor in 17 'religious' cities

CM says decision to be implemented after report of delimitation commission

India not seeking duty concessions on liquor, cigarette in FTA with Oman

India is not seeking customs duty concessions on over 100 product categories such as liquor, and cigarette in the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), which is under negotiations between the two countries, sources said. They also said that though the FTA negotiations were concluded, Oman has sought revision of its market access offers on some products. The two sides have discussed three to four issues flagged by Oman, and any potential changes would be minimal, they said. India is expected to gain greater market access for about 98 per cent of its goods in Oman, along with significant access to the services sector. "There could be about 125-130 tariff lines (or product categories), where we have not asked for duty concessions and that included goods like liquor, and cigarettes," they added. On January 14, India and Oman held the fifth round of talks for the agreement, which is aimed at boosting bilateral economic ties. The negotiations for the agreement, officially dubbed as ...

SC to hear Sisodia's bail pleas for relaxation in excise scam on Dec 11

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on December 11 AAP leader Manish Sisodia's pleas seeking relaxation of bail conditions which require him to report to the investigating officer twice a week in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the Delhi excise policy. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, mentioned the matter before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan. "Day after tomorrow," the bench said, while agreeing to list the matter on December 11. The apex court on November 22 agreed to hear Sisodia's pleas and issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking their responses on the applications. On August 9, the apex court had granted him bail in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, saying long incarceration for 17 months without trial had deprived him of his right to speedy trial. The apex court had imposed condition

Premium portfolios to serve neat margin gains for liquor companies

Profits, uncorked: A spirited blend of festivals and weddings to pour strong growth in FY25's second half

John Distilleries plans 30-acre Karnataka plant with Rs 600 cr investment

The company also targets nearly 150 cases of single malt and about 2.3 crore cases of all other brands put together by the end of the financial year 2025 (FY25)

Why did liquor demand drop for the first time since Covid in Sep quarter?

Whisky, which makes up two-thirds of the spirits segment, experienced a 1 per cent drop in volume, with brandy and rum also falling by 3 per cent and 2 per cent respectively

Apex court upholds states' right to regulate taxes on industrial alcohol

The verdict is likely to impact entities involved in the industrial alcohol sector, who will now have to anticipate future regulatory changes

SC curtails Centre's authority on industrial alcohol; overturns 1990 ruling

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, writing for himself and seven other judges, declared that the central government does not possess regulatory authority over industrial alcohol

Ten more die after 'consuming illicit liquor' in Bihar, toll rises to 35

Ten more people died after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Bihar's Siwan and Saran districts, taking the toll in the hooch tragedy to 35, an official said on Friday. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Saran range, Nilesh Kumar said on Friday that while Siwan accounted for 28 fatalities, seven deaths have been reported from Saran. "As many as 28 people in Maghar and Auriya panchayats in Siwan district have so far died after consuming suspected illicit liquor. Seven people in Ibrahimpur area under the jurisdiction of Mashrakh police station in Saran district also died after consuming suspected spurious liquor", the DIG told PTI on Friday. The suspected hooch tragedy has triggered a political blame game with opposition parties questioning the efficacy of the ban on sale and consumption of liquor, imposed by the Nitish Kumar government more than eight years ago. Locals in both districts claimed that people lost their lives after "consuming illicit liquor". On the condition