Consignment of beer worth Rs 80L being transported on single permit seized, two held

Indore: A consignment of beer worth Rs 80 lakh, being transported on a single permit in two separate vehicles, was intercepted and seized by Lasudia police on Friday night.Acting on a tip-off about illegal liquor transportation, a team was formed under the supervision of DCP Kumar Pratik and led by Lasudia police station in-charge Taresh Soni. A check-post point was set up and the vehicles were intercepted. Two drivers were arrested and the vehicles were seized, taking the total value of confiscated property to around Rs 1 crore. The vehicles reportedly moved from Maksi in Shajapur district and were heading towards Dhar when the police team stopped them on the Indore bypass near a hotel.
On checking, police found 2800 cartons of beer loaded in the truck and the another vehicle. When asked to produce documents related to the consignment, both drivers produced identical permits. Suspicion deepened as the same permit number was shown for transporting beer of the same company in two different vehicles.The arrested truck driver was identified as 38-year-old Kashiram, a resident of Shrinath Colony in Dhar district. Another vehicle driver was identified as 50-year-old Sheikh Ajgar, a resident of Jhokar village in Shajapur district. During questioning, the duo could not give consistent answers about using a single permit for the consignment.DCP Kumar Pratik said a preliminary inquiry revealed that one of the vehicles was shown as "broken down" and the stock was claimed to be shifted to another vehicle. However, both vehicles were found carrying beer cartons and were seized.Police registered a case against both accused drivers and arrested them under relevant provisions of the Excise Act. A total of 2,800 cartons containing 33,600 bulk litres of beer were seized, along with the two vehicles valued at around Rs 20 lakh. The consignment was allegedly lifted from a warehouse near Maksi in Shajapur district. Officials are also verifying the bill generated from a warehouse located on Nemawar Road.