Ryots, Women Pawns in Politicos' Benami Game to Get Liquor Licence

VIJAYAWADA/VISAKHAPATNAM: Laws or no laws, benami tradition continues in liquor business, if the background of the liquor licence applicants is any indication. They include small and tenant farmers who have no idea how to run liquor business. They are reported to be propped by politicians of all hues. For instance, in Visakhapatnam, it is very clear who is cornering the licences. They are unmistakably representatives of MLAs and politicians.

In Krishna district, vehicles belonging to Vijayawada Deputy Mayor, about 10 ZPTC members and those belonging to the Vijayawada Urban TDP president and corporators of TDP are found at the liquor licences issue centre in Machilipatnam on Monday, when the draw of lots was held to award liquor vends. If some ZPTC members and people’s representatives personally visited the collector’s office where the allotment of licences was going on, others were monitoring the situation by staying in hotels. As one has to submit IT return forms, this time, benamis of politicians came forward to file the applications. A visit to the centre in Vizag reveals that those who are seeking the licences include small farmers and tenant farmers who have no experience at all in liquor business.