India, Aug. 30 -- The Excise Department on Sunday suspended seven officers, including a Deputy Commissioner, following a preliminary inquiry into allegations of unauthorised collection of money, liquor and other benefits from licensed bar establishments in Changanassery here, officials said.

The seven suspended officers are Deputy Excise Commissioner S Asoka Kumar; Preventive Officers M Manuel, Lalu Thankachan, Praveen Sivanand and Santhosh T; Preventive Officer (Grade) Shiju K; and Civil Excise Officer Visakh A S.

The action followed a tip-off received by Excise Minister M Liju on August 27 regarding alleged illegal liquor sales beyond permitted hours at bar hotels in the Changanassery area and information about an alleged intermediary...