It's a merry time for liquor vendors in Rajasthan. They are overcharging at will and customers don't even know how much they are overcharging. It seems excise department is no where in between to control the liquor business in the state.
Even after the onset of new financial year, the excise department is yet to release the rate list for the fiscal 2025-26. In absence rate list, different shops are charging different rates for a brand citing increase in excise duty on liquor.
“For a bottle of Blender's Pride a customer has to shell out Rs 1040 at one shop while other shop is charging Rs 1060. And customer doesn't know who is charging how much extra. The situation is similar with all brand of whiskey and beer,” said Ravi Shankar Sharma.
The BuckStopper has been chasing excise commissioner Nakate Shivprasad Madan to understand the issue. After repeated phone calls and messages Nakate preferred to remain unavailable. We will update the story once Nakate gives the version what department is doing to curb this.
Rajasthan government earns a whopping Rs 17,100 crore from excise. The government has introduced new excise policy which will be effective for next four years. It is aimed at increasing revenue by raising excise duty and easing permission for opening bars. Under the new policy liquor shops can now be opened at airports.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
