Chandigarh, May 30
The Punjab government is taking a stringent action against illegal liquor. In a major operation against illicit liquor, the Excise Department conducted overnight raids on Thursday. During the raid, a massive consignment of approximately 80,000 liters of ethanol, packed in two trucks in Bathinda, was seized, and several individuals were arrested.
The two trucks carrying ethanol bore Gujarat registration numbers, clearly indicating that the consignment originated from Gujarat. In addition, two Toyota Etios cars and one Innova SUV connected to the case were also seized.
Eight individuals involved in the case have been arrested and charged under stringent sections of the law that carry provisions for life imprisonment. Among those arrested, four are from Bathinda, two from Uttar Pradesh, and two from Nepal. Both the Excise Department and the police are interrogating the accused.
Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema addressed the media on the matter in a press conference on Friday. Speaking to media, he said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has always maintained a strict stance on illegal liquor, emphasizing the government's zero-tolerance policy towards it.
He stated that the accused have been charged under sections 14, 61, 78, subsection 2, and 303 of the Excise Act. Additionally, they face charges under criminal sections 316 (breach of trust) and 125 (endangering human lives), which entail severe punishments.
The amount of ethanol seized today could have been used to produce approximately 375,000 bottles of country-made (desi) liquor, 250,000 bottles of english (angrezi) liquor, or 110,000 bottles of sanitizer. If such a large quantity of liquor had been manufactured and distributed, it could have endangered thousands of lives. Thus, this operation marks a significant achievement for the government.
Cheema warned that those involved in manufacturing or selling illegal liquor will not be spared. Strict action will be taken against all. He issued a firm warning, urging counterfeit liquor producers to shut down their operations immediately or face stringent legal consequences, including imprisonment.
He also pointed out that some individuals smuggle ENA (Extra Neutral Alcohol) from Punjab to other states to produce liquor, while others manufacture and sell liquor within Punjab. Additionally, some misuse ethanol under the guise of producing sanitizers. Numerous such products are used as mediums for the misuse of ethanol.
In this particular case, the ethanol was loaded at a factory named VRV Hospitality Private Limited, located in Dinanagar, Gurdaspur. Excise officials are investigating the intended destination and purpose of the consignment. Every detail is being scrutinized to solve the case.
Cheema revealed that the Excise Department had received secret intelligence about the route and movement of the trucks. Subsequently, a coordinated operation was launched with checkpoints set up across various locations, leading to the successful interception of the trucks.
He assured that such actions will continue unabated. The AAP government’s ultimate aim is to eradicate drugs and illicit liquor from Punjab. There will be no compromise in the war against drugs and crime.