Despite Change of Guard OSBCL Derailed

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited (OSBCL), which is in charge of liquor distribution in the State, it has been plagued by rampant corruption and gross mismanagement which has been even pointed out by the CAG in its report.

Of late, Excise Secretary Sushil Kumar Lohani has been shunted out by the Odisha Government. It was alleged that Lohani had turned a blind eye to corruption in the OSBCL and gave a freehand to the tainted top officials.

OSBCL Derailed

However, though Lohani has been shunted out from the Excise Department, it is alleged that the tainted top officials continue their illegal activities to mint crores of rupees, which is causing huge loss to the State.  A top official Manas Ranjan Swain who is in the eye of the storm, has managed to bag two important posts of Chief General Manager (Operations) and Chief Operating Officer in the process handle multiple responsibilities.  It might be mentioned here that Chief Operating Officer is vacant for long.

Besides, though one Amit Kumar Singh has been appointed as Chief General Manager (Accounts and Audit), the accounts work has been outsourced to different chartered accounts for which a hefty sum is being paid by the OSBC.

Outsourcing and Dubious Appointments

Similarly, though the OSBCL is not into any manufacturing activity, one Bibhuti  Bhusan Jena has been appointed as Deputy Manager of Supply Chain Management.

Further, due to delay in supply of liquor to the retail outlets by the OSBCL officials, taking advantage of it, spurious liquor is managing to get into the retail outlets. This is a major concern as the unsuspecting customer does not know that what he is consuming. The seizure of spurious liquor bottles from the Baramunda area in Bhubaneswar is a glaring example. It is alleged that CGM Swain’s involvement in such incidents is being suspected.

Spurious Liquor Threat and SOP Violations

Earlier, it was alleged that CGM Swain worked in tandem with the OSBCL Chairman and started harassing the liquor companies on various pretexts to collect bribes. He also committed huge irregulates in loading and unloading at the depots. Whether there was pilferage, theft or damages during the unloading of liquor, Swain in nexus with the depot in-charge violated all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which has been pointed out by the CAG in its report which was tabled in the State Assembly in 2022.

He also harassed the liquor companies on various pretexts to collect bribes. He also committed huge irregularities in loading and unloading at the depots. Whether there was pilferage, theft or damages during the unloading of liquor, Swain in nexus with the depot in-charge violated all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which has been pointed out by the CAG in its report which was tabled in the State Assembly in 2022.

Financial Irregularities and Need for Investigation

The COO and the depot in-charge show cartoons of good liquor bottles as ‘breakage’ and sell them outside to pocket the money. If any supplier complains, the liquor company’s truck is detained for days, due to which the transport costs spiral for the company.

During loading and unloading process of the liquor-laden trucks at the OSBCL depots if there is any fire, theft, the compensation paid to the companies for the loss is not disbursed properly and is being embezzled.

The money paid to the liquor companies through the automation process after supply, is being held back by the COO for some days with a tacit understanding with some bank officials. The accrued interest is being allegedly siphoned off by Swain.

 

A  probe by the new Excise Principal Secretary can only unravel deep-rooted corruption in the OSBCL and clean the Augean stables in it due to which the Odisha Government is losing revenue worth crores of rupees.