Patna, Aug 14
The Enforcement Directorate of Patna Zonal Office conducted search operations at seven locations in Gurugram, Ranchi, Naharlagun, Namsai, and Muzaffarpur in connection with a case of illegal liquor supply in Bihar.
According to an official statement, the raids led to the seizure of Rs 75.6 lakh in cash, along with several incriminating documents, materials, and digital devices.
The ED initiated its probe based on multiple FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Bihar Police under the Indian Penal Code against M/s Sunil Bhardwaj and others.
The agency said the accused also used these entities to open multiple bank accounts to receive payments from buyers, thereby generating large volumes of Proceeds of Crime.
According to an official of the liquor prohibition department of Bihar, liquor smuggling prominently takes place on the Siliguri-Purnea-Darbhanga-Gopalganj-Lucknow-Delhi national highway, and its supply chain spreads in every district.
Besides, the Delhi-Kolkata National Highway 19 (GT Road) is also a major route for the smuggling of liquor in Bihar.
The illegal traders of liquor are running this business to the tune of over Rs 20,000 crore per year