- Jupally says that the officer delayed the hologram tender for six months
- No license fee hiled for the last six years
- Decision on Local body elections only after October first week
Hyderabad: The issue of voluntary retirement of senior IAS officer Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi, who is serving as Principal Secretary (Excise), was one of the discussion points at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. Although the cabinet convened to discuss the issue of over 42 percent reservations for backward classes and local body elections, the alleged differences with Jupally Krishna Rao also came up for discussion. Krishna Rao’s argument is that Rizvi is deliberately delaying the tender process for high-security holograms affixed to sealed liquor bottles to check the illegal liquor sales in the state.
The delay allegedly allowed the existing vendor operating since 2019 without competition to continue supplying labels used to track liquor from distilleries to retail outlets. This is a key mechanism for preventing evasion and counterfeit liquor. Jupally claimed that Rizvi ignored his directives between August 2024 and April 2025. There is a provision to increase the lease license fee, and it has not been done. Jupally said that the issue was taken to the notice of the Chief Secretary. He also said that the BRS tried to shift the blame to Congress by highlighting the Rizvi issue.
Sources said that Rizvi applied for VRS not connecting the issue with the Minister and he has other plans after getting retirement. The Cabinet decided to take a decision on local body elections after the court judgment on the issue on November 3. The Cabinet also discussed the BC reservations and decided to seek expert opinions on the matter. Cabinet decisions also included the dismantling of the Ramagundam Thermal Plant, bringing water to Nalgonda from the Srisailam reservoir, setting up four super-specialty hospitals on a war-footing, and a 1500 MW electric battery power plant to cater to the power demand in the coming years.
Editor, Prime Post
Ravindra Seshu Amaravadi, is a senior journalist with 38 years of experience in Telugu, English news papers and electronic media. He worked in Udayam as a sub-editor and reporter. Later, he was associated with Andhra Pradesh Times, Gemini news, Deccan Chronicle, HMTV and The Hans India. Earlier, he was involved in the research work of All India Kisan Sabha on suicides of cotton farmers. In Deccan Chronicle, he exposed the problems of subabul and chilli farmers and malpractices that took place in various government departments.
After all this episode it is understood officer Rizvi is delaying tender process.