‘Some employees linked to mafias’: Odisha Excise Commissioner makes shocking revelation

In a stunning revelation, it has been learnt that there are several mafias among the employees of the Excise Department of Odisha government who are involved in many illegal activities.

Odisha Excise Commissioner Narasingha Bhola informed about the development on Saturday.

According to Bhola, while some of those mafia employees have been allegedly involved in illegal liquor trading, some others are giving protection to ganja mafias .

Moreover, while some of the employees of the department have alleged ownership of more than one liquor counter, some others are illegally trading seized ganjas amounting to quintals.

Even some officers of the department are allegedly accepting monthly shares from brown sugar dealers.

After getting strong evidences against those employees, the Excise Department is reportedly in action mode. Taking stringent actions, the department has dismissed eight and suspended 20 employees in one year.

In another stunning revelation, it has been learnt that Rajeev Kumar Bhanja, who was working as an excise constable in Balasore, was the biggest illegal supplier of country-made and foreign liquor in North Odisha. After getting strong evidences against Bhanja in this regard, the excise Department has suspended him from the job.

In response to the development, Odisha Excise Commissioner Narasingha Bhola said that the department will continue to take stringent actions against the employees involved in illegal acts.

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“As many as eight employees of the Excise Department have been dismissed from jobs for their involvement in ganja supply and taking money from the liquor mafias on a monthly basis. We took the action after getting strong pieces of evidence against them,” said Excise Commissioner Narasingha Bhola.

“Based on vigilance and our departmental inquiries, we have identified some employees in every rank of the Excise Department involved in corrupt and criminal activities. We have kept a strong vigil on them. Moreover, they have been issued warnings either directly or indirectly. If they don’t change their activities, stern actions will be taken against them,” he added.