Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in the Excise Department in Dakshina Kannada district, according to JDS leader R Janardhan.
Janardhan claimed the Chief Minister told him government would probe the charges and that he had directed officials to submit a report in three days.
Speaking to reporters after submitting a memorandum to Gowda on the `irregularities,` he demanded removal of Excise Minister M P Renukacharya from the ministry, alleging he was hand-in-glove with excise officials and his inaction against corrupt excise officials was causing losses to the exchequer.
He also alleged that the excise officials were `extorting` money from liqour and wine shopowners for no tenable reasons.
However Renukacharya, a loyalist of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, refuted the charges and said Gowda should have consulted him before taking a decision.
"Gowda should have consulted his cabinet colleague (me) before initiating a probe and asking my officials to submit a report on th issue in three days," he said.
He claimed excise revenue has gone up and he had tightened administration to curb `violations` by liqour and wine shop owners.
PTI
