Noida, the bustling hub of Gautam Buddh Nagar, witnessed a crackdown on excise department corruption as its District Excise Officer was placed under suspension. The move, triggered by overcharging allegations, reaffirms Uttar Pradesh’s zero-tolerance policy championed by the Yogi government.
Reports of overrating surfaced from liquor traders who claimed they were forced to pay premiums well above stipulated rates for licenses and quotas. These practices, if proven, represent a direct assault on fair business operations and state exchequer interests.
Following a rapid internal review, the Principal Secretary, Excise, issued the suspension order late yesterday. The officer has been attached to headquarters while a special team digs deeper into financial trails and witness statements. Authorities are tight-lipped on specifics but hint at possible involvement of middlemen.
This development is part of a larger purge in UP’s excise machinery, where overcharging and cartel formations have long festered. Recent reforms, including online auctions for liquor shops, were introduced precisely to curb such issues, yet gaps remain.
Stakeholders welcome the swift response, hoping it deters others. As investigations proceed, this case could set precedents for handling similar complaints across the state. In Yogi Adityanath’s UP, accountability is non-negotiable, and this suspension drives that point home emphatically.