Kerala Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao moved due to differences with minister over bartending license

Seeram Sambasiva Rao Photo Credit: S. RAMESH KURUP

Kerala Excise Commissioner Seeram Sambasiva Rao was removed from his post days after Excise Minister M Liju publicly expressed his disapproval of granting a bar license to a lounge at the Kochi airport despite the government’s objection to a similar application.

Additional Excise Commissioner was appointed in his place. Mr. Rao was appointed to the post in June 2026.

Mr Liju said the ministry had granted two licenses without the government’s knowledge. Although the request for a third has been referred to the government, it has been told that a decision can only be taken after the new excise duty policy is adopted by the end of November. Nevertheless, the procedure for a new application was initiated.

The minister said the excise commissioner should have consulted the government before taking the decision. Alluding to a review of the law licensing process, Mr Liju said on Monday that the government would investigate whether some officials had hastily issued licenses using loopholes in the system.

He said the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government issued a regulation in 2017 that allowed deputy commissioners to approve applications to upgrade pubs and wine bars to bar licenses if the establishments achieved a star rating.

Chief Minister VD Satheesan also said on Wednesday that no bar license will be issued without the government’s knowledge.

Published – November 6, 2026 12:34 PM IST