With three of its inspectors suspended, the excise and taxation department in the city is now left with just three inspectors to keep tabs on the pubs and bars in the city.

Subhash Kaushik, Hansraj and Rakesh Sharma were suspended for their alleged laxity in discharge of their duties as unlicensed illegal liquor vends were found flourishing in their areas. A special team conducted raids in Sohna and Bhondsi area and found around five vends functioning without licences. This led to the suspension of Subhash Kaushik.

While the suspension was aimed at making other officials more vigilant, it failed to have any impact. Eventually, the two other inspectors were also suspended.

Now, the officials blame internal politics for the turn of events. "The suspensions are not done to punish the erring officials, but because of internal politics. In all the three cases, there was no complaint against the inspectors concerned from outsiders, but it was the reports from their own colleagues that landed them in soup," said an official.

The official said now with just three inspectors, it would be difficult to carry out their work, especially when the department was already suffering from staff shortage.