Bhubaneswar, June 2 -- The Odisha government's liquor shop licence lottery has triggered massive enthusiasm across the state, with thousands of applicants investing large sums in the hope of securing a lucrative business opportunity. While a few successful applicants are celebrating their fortunes, many others have been left facing significant financial losses after failing to secure licences.

This year, applicants were required to pay non-refundable fees of Rs 2 lakh for a country liquor shop licence and Rs 3 lakh for a foreign liquor shop licence. Despite the steep costs, the prospect of operating a liquor outlet attracted a record number of applicants. Many reportedly mortgaged gold jewellery, borrowed money, or applied through multip...