876 cases registered, 31,331 litres of illicit liquor recovered by Excise Dept

PRAYAGRAJ, April 19 (HS): Sanjay R. Bhoosreddy, Additional Chief Secretary Excise Department has told that preventive action is being carried out regularly by the department to control the manufacture, sale and smuggling of illicit liquor. In the last week 876 cases were registered all over the state in which 31,331 litres of illicit liquor were recovered and 73,310 kg lahan for preparing illicit liquor were destroyed at the spot. Along with it, 330 persons involved in this act of illicit liquor were arrested and 34 vehicles were seized.

The Additional Chief Secretary has told that in the last week, in district Gautam Buddha Nagar 01 person was arrested while recovering 20 cases of illicit liquor for sale in Haryana State. In the village Pisanhari in Badaun district, three people were arrested with  25 litres of rectified spirit, 15 cases of illicit country liquor, fake QR codes and wrappers, a car and a bike. In Baghpat district, 03 persons were arrested from Ahera forest with 10 cases of orange brand illicit country liquor, 01 tractor trolley and a bike. In another enforcement action, 02 persons were arrested while recovering 687 quarters of illicit foreign liquor from 01 car. In Shamli district during checking at Bidauli checkpost, 06 drums of illegal methyl alcohol were seized  from 01 vehicle and arresting 02 persons from the spot an FIR was lodged at Jhinjhana police station. At Sarsanwa Checkpost in District Saharanpur, 39 cases of illicit country liquor allowed for sale in the state of Haryana were recovered from a Hyundai car and 01 person was arrested from the spot.

It was also informed by him that in Gautam Budh Nagar district, 03 accused were arrested while seizing 912 quarters of illicit foreign liquor of Haryana State from a Mahindra Bolero. In another action, 95 quarts, 249 pints and 597 nips of illicit liquor were recovered from a foreign liquor shop and sealing the shop a case was filed against the licensee and the salesman. In another enforcement action, while recovering 08 cases of illicit beer and 02 cases of illegal liquor from a vehicle a case was registered against 02 persons arrested. In Etawah district, at the country liquor shop Saraiya Chungi, 22 quarters of illicit country liquor, empty bottles and lids were recovered. The salesman was arrested and the shop was suspended. In district Fatehpur, 1439 quarters of illicit country liquor and fake QR code were recovered from a swift car and one person was arrested from the spot.

The Additional Chief Secretary has told that in view of Covid epidemic, it has been instructed to sell liquor at excise shops by following social distancing. In addition, it has also been order to ensure the arrangement of sanitizer at liquor shops and not to sell liquor to any person without mask.