Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 06 December 2023
In a startling revelation, Mr. TSG Bhasker, Campaign Committee Chairperson of ANTCC, accused the ANIIDCO Wine Shops spread across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of rampant corruption. Addressing a Press Conference held at Gandhi Bhavan in Port Blair on 28th November 2023, Bhasker alleged a staggering case of financial irregularities at the ANIIDCO Self Service Wine Shop in Delanipur, Port Blair, dubbing it the “Elite Shop.”
Highlighting an instance between the 1st to 10th of November 2023, Bhasker claimed that the said shop recorded an astronomical sale of INR 52,00,000 (Indian Rupees Fifty-Two Lakhs) on a single day. He accused the shop staff of manipulating sales figures to reconcile the discrepancy between the actual stock and the recorded inventory.
According to Bhasker, scheduled stock delivery failed to materialise at the shop and was illegally delivered to some other people, causing a shortfall in the physical inventory. Allegedly, to bridge this gap, the staff purportedly generated a fictitious sale of INR 52,00,000 overnight, aligning the books with the physical stock. Bhasker alleged the fictitious sale was generated in light of a stock verification conducted, which found serious gap between the recorded inventory and the actual stock.
Expressing concern, Bhasker highlighted that similar irregularities might exist in other ANIIDCO units. He criticized the preferential promotion of certain liquor brands by ANIIDCO, stating that inferior-quality alcohol has inundated the Andaman market, adversely affecting consumers, particularly the financially disadvantaged who end up paying a premium for subpar liquor.
Furthermore, Bhasker pointed out a shift in the procurement process, alleging that unlike during the Congress regime, where public representation was considered in purchase committees, the current system seemingly lacks representation from hotel and bar owners.
In a direct plea to the Director General of Police, Bhasker urged for an immediate and thorough investigation into the purported widespread corruption within ANIIDCO.
These allegations by Bhasker come on the heels of a recent misappropriation case reported at the Rangat Wine Shop, adding weight to the concerns raised. The pressing question remains whether the A & N Administration and the local police will heed Bhasker’s call and conduct a transparent investigation to bring clarity to these accusations.
The seriousness of the allegations, coupled with the apparent similarities to a previous case, raises significant doubts about the integrity of the operations within ANIIDCO’s wine shops across the islands. As public scrutiny mounts, the spotlight now falls on the authorities to address these claims and ensure accountability in the handling of alcohol sales and distribution in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.