A superintendent-ranked officer of the Prohibition and Excise Department has been asked to surrender in connection with the rave party case reported from Rushikonda beach.
The action was taken against B. Subbarao, Excise Superintendent of Gajuwaka division, on Thursday on the recommendation of Collector K. Bhaskar.
On April 13, Arilova police and City Task Force (CTF) conducted a raid at the party being organised by a private hotel at Rushikonda beach.
Six held so far
So far, six persons including the event manager Sonu have been arrested with the seizure of various psychedelic drugs such as Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine; 5-methoxy-MDA (MMDA) and cocaine from the possession of the accused.
The accused have reportedly confessed that they had sourced the drugs through the dark web and the contraband were peddled at the rave party.
However, investigation revealed that the organisers had obtained the licence from the Prohibition and Excise Department to serve liquor at the party.
Taking cognisance of the offence, the Collector had asked the Excise Department authorities to find out that how the licence was issued to the event managers for serving liquor when the Model Code of Conduct was in force.
According to sources, the Excise Commissioner had clearly instructed the department officials not to issue one-day licence for serving liquor in parties while the election code was in force.
“The Model Code of Conduct is in force until May 27 and it is illegal to issue a temporary or one-day permit for serving liquor at parties,” a senior officer from the Excise Department told The Hindu on Thursday.
Moreover, the one-day licence for liquor parties can be accorded to the organisers on regular days, given that the programme is organised in a closed environment.
“But, the rave party in question was organised in the open at Rushikonda beach,” the officer added.
Detailed inquiry
Meanwhile, the Excise Department authorities have appointed a Joint Commissioner-ranked officer to conduct a detailed inquiry and Mr. Subbarao will not hold any official position until the investigation is over.
“Action will be taken against the official after the inquiry,” sources in the Excise Department said.
Political turn
However, buzz is doing the rounds in the Prohibition and Excise Department that the Excise Superintendent of Gajuwaka division was forced to issue the one-day licence for serving liquor owing to the pressure from political quarters as the rave party was organised at Rushikonda by the son of a prominent leader.