Draft scam: Role of excise officials under lens

Bhopal: A day after Madhya Pradesh Police registered an FIR against authorities of Canara Bank in Katni district for withholding payments of 17 demand drafts (DDs) - worth Rs 7 crore - presented to it by the state's excise department, Lokayukta's special police establishment too have registered a preliminary enquiry against officers of the excise department on Sunday.
The action was taken after Lokayukta took suo motu cognisance of the matter.
Case will be investigated by SPE's Jabalpur unit. SP Padmavilochan Shukla told TOI that officers of excise department are under scanner. FIR will be registered against the accused officer after initial investigations.
The DD was issued by bank's branch in Jabalpur district to a liquor contractor who got tenders for new liquor shops in Katni district.
Earlier on Sunday, DGM Canara Bank Ashok Kumar Sahu had got a complaint lodged against the Jabalpur branch manager - K D Sharma besides recommending a vigilance inquiry. Investigators believe that liquor contractor had colluded with the bank's Jabalpur branch manager for getting DDs worth Rs 7 crore released without making any payment. "It seems that the contractor was not able to arrange money to be paid as fees to excise department under different heads after getting the tender. As the deadline for depositing fee neared, he must have got into a 'deal' with the bank manager with a promise to return the money later," said a police officer.