The persons who have obtained liquor shop licences in the state on benami names by investing crores of rupees are in a fix. Many of the wine dealers in state got licences on the names of their drivers, clerks and even servants by showing crores worth properties on their name. And for this, they were given petty jobs in wine shops or in the household.

Now the problem started with ACB raids on the liquor syndicate. Things have changed now. Now the actual owners, who have been minting money by operating syndicates and selling liquor for more than MRP rates, are now incurring losses. Many of them are shutting down their businesses. Now the shop owners have started to withdraw from the guarantee amount they have deposited earlier to pay monthly instalments to the excise department. On the other hand, banks, who have paid monies to excise department are pressurising the licence holders who have borrowed from them. These licence holders (Mostly Benamis) are very poor and in no way can repay the amounts.

When these benamis ask for money to repay the banks, the owners are avoiding them on one excuse or the other. The hapless benamis are fleeing their homes to undisclosed places. The bank people are trying very hard to trace them. Some benamis, those who are not able to run away, are approaching excise officials for help admitting that they are just benamis and have acted according to what theiur employers have asked them to do.