Illicit brewing of arrack in Bhupalapally alleged

Superior officers reportedly remain oblivious of illegal business and it comes as a boon to a local cop

PNS|Bhupalapally

The brewing of illicit arrack in some part of the district has reportedly become widespread. Strangely, the officials of the Prohibition and Excise Department, who are supposed to curb the illicit distillation of the arrack, have allegedly been looking other way. A person took advantage of the situation to extort money from the distillers, it is alleged.

It is alleged that an Excise constable working in a mandal, where the illicit brewing of arrack is widespread, has been extorting money from illicit distillers instead of bringing such elements to book. Threatening the illicit distillers of the arrack by claiming the support of superior officials, the constable is allegedly threatening the illicit arrack distillers.

In an instance, the cop allegedly accosted a car owner alone and threatened to seize his car on the charge of smuggling black jiggery and alum used in illicit brewing of the arrack and demanded Rs 30,000 as hush money.

However, the car owner expressed his inability to pay such a huge amount. But, the constable allegedly collected Rs 10,000 on the spot and let the car owner go as he promised the constable to pay the balance the next day.

The next day, the constable started harassing the car owner for the remaining amount. Vexed with the ways of the constable, the car owner approached this correspondent and related what happened.

Several others who claimed to be victims belonging to Gatlakunta, Kottapalli, Chidnepalli villages complained that they, too, had similar experiences. In this area, illicitly distilled arrack is flowing like anything in these villages since the enforcement constable resorted to corruption.

District Prohibition and Excise Department Superintendent Srinivas, when contacted, said that action would be taken against the constable concerned if an investigation proved allegations against him.