Continuing the drive to curb illegal activities involved in the liquor trade as per the guidelines issued by the Punjab Government, the Excise Department conducted raids in which a huge quantity of illicit liquor was seized.
The operation was carried out with the active participation of senior officers Assistant Commissioner Dr. Shivani Gupta, Excise Officers Amit Goyal and Ashok Kumar as well as Excise Inspectors Navnish Airi, Navdeep Singh, Major Singh and Adarsh. Their coordinated efforts played a vital role in the success of this high-impact enforcement campaign.
Several consignments of liquor were seized during the operation. A significant portion of the stock was found to be in violation of regulatory norms. There was complete lack of mandatory track and trace compliance or there were inconsistent or fraudulent identifiers. These violations represent a serious violation of the Excise Department’s regulatory framework which was established to ensure product traceability, protect public health and eliminate the spread of any malpractice. The number of cases is as follows:-
30 cases of IMFL, 9 cases of Beer and 162 cases of PML with track and trace.
In addition, there are 31 cases without trace which include 9 cases of USD XXX RUM PML 65 Degree and 22 cases of IMFL Royal Stag which are for sale only in Punjab.
Patiala Zone Deputy Commissioner Excise Shri Tarsem Chand PCS said, “Patiala Zone Excise Department is committed to upholding the law and ensuring sale of only legally compliant liquor in the market. This seizure reflects our zero-tolerance policy towards illegal trade and our dedication towards consumer protection.”
Legal action has been initiated against the persons involved. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the origin and intended distribution network of the seized consignments.
The Excise Department appeals to citizens and stakeholders to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. Public cooperation remains crucial in combating the menace of illicit liquor trade.
