BENGALURU: Days after wine merchants alleged corruption in transfers and licence renewals in Karnataka excise department, minister RB Timmapur may be eased out of the ministry or assigned a different portfolio, and the crisis-hit department may go to chief minister Siddaramaiah.
Sources indicated Tuesday that Timmapur may get a new role following tough signals from high command. This development comes after Federation of Wine Merchants’ Association called off a proposed statewide strike scheduled for Wednesday. The merchants had threatened to shut down liquor shops across the state if Timmapur was not removed from his post.
Timmapur has denied the accusations, stating all transfers and licence renewals are standard procedures and complaints should be directed at officials concerned.
The decision to withdraw the strike call followed a meeting between the federation’s representatives and CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday afternoon.
“The meeting went off well, and the CM responded to our demands positively. A committee of officials will review our concerns and submit a report. Based on this, appropriate action will be taken. The CM has promised to address our issues wherever possible,” federation general secretary B Govindaraj Hegde said after the meeting.
The federation had accused the excise minister of accepting bribes for transfer of excise officials and for renewal and transfer of liquor shop licences. BJP urged CM to form an SIT to probe the allegations.