Kerala Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao has been transferred amid a growing controversy over the grant and renewal of bar licences allegedly without the knowledge of Excise Minister M. Liju. Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha issued the transfer order, removing Rao from the post with immediate effect. The Additional Excise Commissioner has been given temporary charge of the department.
The transfer follows reports that Minister Liju expressed strong displeasure over the commissioner’s handling of the licence issue. The minister reportedly rejected Rao’s explanation that there was nothing illegal about the licences and that the commissioner had acted within his administrative authority. Rao’s absence from a meeting of excise officials convened by the minister on Thursday further added to the tensions.
The controversy centres on the grant of licences to two lounge bars at Kochi airport and the renewal of licences for three beer and wine parlours. These decisions reportedly took place before the state government announced its new liquor policy, triggering questions about administrative procedures and ministerial oversight.
In August, the state government had issued a directive stating that no bar licences should be granted before the announcement of the liquor policy. Earlier, two excise officials were suspended after it emerged that licence-related decisions had allegedly been taken without informing the minister.
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The Glenwalk Sells Nearly 1 Million Bottles in September 2026, Expands to 23 Indian StatesThe issue has also escalated into a political confrontation between the ruling Congress-led government and the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist). Minister Liju and Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan accused the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of liberalising the process for granting bar licences.
Former Excise Minister M. B. Rajesh, however, defended the earlier policy, stating that the provision allowing officials to handle licence grants and renewals had been introduced during Oommen Chandy’s tenure as Chief Minister.
Rao’s transfer marks a significant administrative development in the ongoing Kerala bar licence controversy, which has raised questions about departmental accountability, licensing procedures and the role of political oversight in excise administration.
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