Big -haul of 2718 cases of liquor found stored in unauthorized place unearthed by Excise Department in Patiala

Chandigarh, January 22:

The Excise Department in a joint operation with the Police authorities raided and searched the premises of the licensee Manju Singla holding Retail license for Group-18 of Patiala City. 

The authorities acted on a tip-off that the said licensee is storing some unauthorized stock of liquor in its residential house which is located near to their Lahori Gate Vend.

The entire operation was carried out in a well coordinated manner under Excise Commissioner Rajat Agarwal,  SSP Patiala Dr. Sandeep Garg and supervision of Joint Commissioner (Excise) Naresh Dubey, A.I.G. (Excise) Harmeet Singh Hundal Deputy Commissioner Excise, Patiala Zone Rajpal Khaira, S.P. (City) Harpal Singh, D.S.P. City-1 Ashok Kumar Sharma and Assistant Commissioner Excise Patiala Range Inderjit Singh Nagpal along with the team of Patiala Excise Office.

Giving the details, Excise Commissioner informed that the Excise department has once again tightened the nose on persons involved in smuggling and selling non duty paid liquor in Punjab. 

Pointing out further, Rajat Agarwal said that immediately acting on the tip-off, the team of Special Operation Group of Excise Department swung into action. During the course of search it was found that three persons namely Lalit Singla S/o Gian Chand Singla, Keshav Singla S/o Varinder Kumar R/o Sarai Albel Singh Lahori Gate, Patiala (who are family members of the Licensee) and their Partner Umesh Sharma, are involved in storing liquor at unauthorized places which are situated inside their residential premises.

During the course of search, as many as 2718 Cases of liquor were found stored in different places which were not authorized for storage. Out of 2718 Cases,  428 bottles of Bio Brands were found without holograms,  1009 cases of Beer and 493 cases of PML were found and 1180 cases of IMFL were found, added Agarwal.

The department had registered a FIR No.16 Dated 21-01-2022 against the three accused in PS Lahori Gate.

The Excise Commissioner reiterated that since the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in view of the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha Elections 2022, and in compliance with the directions given by the Election Commission of India, the department has taken action against smuggling of liquor or any illegal activity related to excise.

He further appealed to the people to bring to the notice of the department any activity related to illegal manufacturing, distillation, smuggling and storage of liquor throughout the State at the Complaint Cell No. 98759-61126, so that the Elections can be conducted in a free and fair manner.