Excise dept crackdown on illicit liquor, multiple FIRs filed

Patiala: The Excise Department Patiala has carried out enforcement operations against networks involved in adulteration, counterfeiting and cross-border smuggling of liquor in the district since April 1, registering three FIRs, arresting multiple accused and seizing illicit, spurious and smuggled liquor.The operations were conducted under the guidance of Jitendra Jorwal, excise commissioner, Punjab, and Naresh Dubey, additional commissioner (excise), Punjab, and followed prior intelligence gathering and coordinated inter-agency action. In the first case, the excise team, along with excise police staff, raided a residential premises in Lehal Colony, Patiala, after receiving specific intelligence about an adulteration unit. Two accused, Arjun Kumar of Baba Jiwan Singh Nagar, Passi Road, Patiala, and Puneet Kumar of DMW Colony, Patiala, were apprehended.The department said the accused filled empty bottles labelled as premium Scotch Whisky brands Johnnie Walker Black Label, Black Dog Gold Reserve, and 100 Pipers with IMFL Wazir Deluxe Whisky, which is authorised for sale in Chandigarh only and is not licensed for sale in Punjab. It said the refilled bottles were sealed with counterfeit brand cap seals recovered from the premises and were intended to be sold at premium Scotch Whisky prices. The seizure included 34 bottles of IMFL Wazir Deluxe, 49 empty Black Label bottles, 10 empty Black Dog Gold Reserve bottles, 8 empty 100 Pipers bottles, and cap seals and packaging materials of multiple premium brands. A case was registered at Civil Lines police station, Patiala under Section 61-1-14 of the Punjab Excise Act and Sections 346 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023.In the second case, on 14th April, a joint operation led to the arrest of Raj Kumar Sethi, and the seizure of 150 bottles of liquor. The seized liquor included Royal Challenge (47 bottles), Punjab Mota Santra (24), Punjab Rano Saunfi (7), and Royal Stag (8 bottles), and Super Himmat Saunf (10 bottles), described as liquor bearing Chandigarh territorial authorisation and illegally introduced into the Punjab market. The seizure also included 54 bottles of prima facie counterfeit liquor presented as Punjab brands: Royal Stag (38 bottles), Punjab Heer Saunfi (10 bottles), and Punjab Asli Mota Santra (6 bottles). FIR No. 67 was registered at PS Kotwali, Patiala under Section 61-1-14 of the Punjab Excise Act and Sections 61-2, 336, and 338 of the BNS Act, 2023.In the third case, on 10th April, the excise department and CIA staff intercepted a dark grey car carrying 25 cases of liquor stated to bear Haryana territorial authorisation under the brand name ‘NV Raseela Santra.' An inspection found every bottle in the consignment carried the identical Hologram Number and that none bore a batch number or manufacturing date, which the officials said are mandatory requirements, indicating unlicensed manufacture. The two accused, Maninder Singh, of Bhankhar village of Sanaur, Patiala, and Gurvinder Singh of Kahnaheri village, Sanaur, Patiala, fled the spot and were being traced. FIR No. 63 was registered at Sadar Patiala police station under Sections 61 and 78(2) of the Punjab Excise Act. The vehicle was seized and investigation into the supply network, including its manufacturing source, distribution chain and end-sale points, was underway.The department officials stated: "The Patiala Excise Department wishes to place on record, with the utmost emphasis, that its zero tolerance policy against excise violations is absolute, unconditional, and admits of no exception. Whether the offence takes the form of adulteration, counterfeiting, cross-border smuggling, unlicensed storage, or sale outside authorised channels — it shall be pursued with the full and uncompromising force of law. No offender shall be spared, no compromise entertained, and no leniency extended on any grounds whatsoever. The Department's enforcement tempo will only intensify in the weeks and months ahead."They also appealed to every citizen and liquor consumer of Patiala and its surrounding areas to Purchase liquor only from authorised Government Excise Vends."If any citizen has knowledge of, or witnesses, any illegal storage, manufacture, sale, or transport of liquor, they are urged to report the same immediately to the nearest Excise Office or Police Station. All informer identities will be kept in strict confidence and protected under law. The Department counts on the partnership of citizens and the media in this campaign for public health, public safety, and the rule of law", they said. MSID:: 130370709 413 |