Chandigarh, May 24
As Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force due to General Elections to Loksabha – 2024, there has been consistent efforts by the Excise Department as per the directions of Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner (Taxation), Punjab Vikas Pratap, and Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Punjab Varun Roojam, to ensure free and fair elections by putting complete control over smuggling of liquor as well as illicit distillation.
During this time period a well-executed plan of the Excise department has resulted into registration of about 1058 FIRs. In addition to it, 937 arrests have been made, 16965 litres of illicit liquor detected, 2756729 litres of lahan recovered and destroyed, 108180 Bottles of PML/IMFL/Beer has been seized. Teams of officers have been carrying out intensive operations against smuggling of liquor, smuggling of ENA and other excise related crimes. All the main culprits in these cases have been arrested and now further the law is taking its own course.
The Excise Department has not even spared the Licensees involved in illegal supply of liquor. Not only their vends (liquor shops) have been challenged/closed but also based on preliminary investigation FIRs have been registered against the owners/active partners under various provisions of the Punjab Excise Act 1914.
In the crusade against excise related crimes, even the manufacturing units like Distilleries, Breweries and Bottling plants have been put under strict surveillance and nobody has been spared for any kind of violations. During surprise checking at one of the bottling plant namely M/s Bborish Industries Pvt. Ltd., Village Behra Tehsil Dera Bassi District SAS Nagar, it was found that various provisions of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 are being violated by this unit. As a result of this, the license of the said Bottling Plant has been suspended for 15 days by the Excise Commissioner, Punjab. Also, strict vigil is being kept on the movement of liquor in the State and 126 Nakas/checking points have been set up in the State to check any illegal movement and sale of liquor in the wake of upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, 2024.
The Punjab Excise department is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the elections are held in a free and fair manner by ruling out possibility of any illegal movement of Liquor.
