In the biggest seizure of alcohol since the announcement of polls in Punjab, a team of the Election Commission (EC) and the excise and taxation department on Saturday seized over 10,000 boxes (approx 1.2 lakh bottles) of illicit liquor from two godowns in the Focal Point area in Bathinda. The seizure comes a week ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
A team comprising officials of the excise and taxation department, police and the civil administration raided the godowns following a tip-off and recovered the liquor. The seizure included 1,306 boxes of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) meant for sale in Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh; 5,355 boxes of country-made liquor manufactured in a Bathinda-based distillery and 3,480 boxes of beer.
Excise and taxation officer Vikram Thakur, who raided the godowns, said 3,400 boxes of beer and country-made liquor bore holograms for sale in Punjab, but these were stored in violation of excise laws as these were not designated stores. The IMFL is manufactured outside Punjab, he added.
Returning officer for Bathinda Urban assembly segment, sub-divisional magistrate Sakshi Sawahaney said it was being probed whether the liquor was meant to be used in elections. “We are yet to trace the owners of the godowns,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}Returning officer for Bathinda Urban assembly segment, sub-divisional magistrate Sakshi Sawahaney said it was being probed whether the liquor was meant to be used in elections. “We are yet to trace the owners of the godowns,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}DSP, City-I, Harinder Singh said based on the recommendation by the excise and taxation department, they have registered a case under the Excise Act against unidentified persons.