The excise department has seized smuggled liquor worth over Rs 78.2 lakh in Jalgaon after conducting a series of seizures across the state.
The excise department has seized smuggled liquor worth over Rs 78.2 lakh in Jalgaon after conducting a series of seizures across the state. The liquor, much of which comprises premium brands and illegal imports from Punjab, was meant for consumption in Maharashtra.
A senior excise official said they had seized 2,500 boxes of liquor, each containing 20 bottles, and in total 50,000 bottles were seized worth Rs 78,28,000 from a container on the Dhule-Jalgaon road. The liquor was meant for sale in Maharashtra. Within the last five months, the excise department registered around 19,700 cases.
Excise department officials, acting on a tip-off, had trapped the driver and cleaner of the container, who were in the vehicle. “The container was seized near the Fountain Hotel on the Dhule-Jalgaon Road. It seems that liquor shop owners are storing alcohol for Holi celebrations. It was country-made liquor, but they didn’t pay import duty,” said an official.
Excise department director B.J. Shekhar said, “We have been trying constantly for the past few months to reduce the import of illegal liquor in the state. Our officers have taken many efforts to do the same. In this case we arrested two persons and we are interrogating them. They had brought the liquor from Punjab via Madhya Pradesh and it was to be sold in Maharashtra. ”
Earlier, the department created a team of 15 members to investigate the racket of selling duty-free liquor by using letters issued by foreign consulates on New Year’s Eve and its efforts saw positive results in the state.
