Tahsildar, 6 Telangana govt employees accused of booze party amid lockdown

Hyderabad: An inquiry has been ordered against seven government employees, including the tahsildar of Khammam district's Madhira, for allegedly consuming alcohol during the lockdown. The Khammam collector, R.V Karnan, has ordered the inquiry.

Tafseer Iqubal, the Khammam commissioner of police, told NewsMeter, “We received a complaint that the Madhira tahsildar and six other employees from his office were drinking alcohol at a government guest house on the night of 13 April. We will investigate whether the gathering was in violation of the lockdown orders. No case has been booked yet but we have ordered an inquiry."

The Telangana government has imposed a complete lockdown in the state since 23 March and a total ban on the sale of alcohol.

According to the latest health statement from the Telangana health ministry, Khammam has seven active Corona virus cases. No patient has recovered or been discharged in the district so far.

On 2 April, the Centre had directed states and Union territories to book, under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act 2005, people who violate the lockdown or make false claims.

On 13 April, Excise officials had arrested a Hyderabad man, Kumar, for distributing liquor to daily labourers and homeless people during the lockdown. Kumar, a resident of the Old City, was seen at Champapet X roads with an alcohol bottle on Sunday. He was distributing alcohol in small quantities to people stranded on the roads and the homeless. Further, he also recorded his act and shared it on TikTok. Soon the video went viral. Some users shared the video on Twitter as well. Excise officials saw the video and arrested Kumar.

Excise minister V. Srinivas Goud had tweeted: “He is been arrested and a case is registered under section 34 A of Telangana Excise Act has been registered. Kudos to Station officer of Saroornagar, Excise and Enforcement team for action immediately.”