JAMMU: Acting on the directions of the Minister for Finance, Labour and Employment Dr. Haseeb A.Drabu, a joint team of Excise & Commercial Taxes Department at Lakhanpur today foiled a major attempt to smuggle liquor into the state.
During the intensified checking at the entry point of the state, the officials of Excise Department detected 2400 bottles (200 cases of 12 bottles each) of IMFL (Contessa Rum) entering the State clandestinely, in a vehicle carrying household goods.
The vehicle bearing registration No. HR61C-3593 approached the Toll Post Lakhanpur at Car/Jeep counter for clearance and declared to have been carrying “House Hold Goods” i.e. old furniture, old cooler etc. However, on physical checking it was found to be carrying 2400 bottles of IMFL in 200 cases (All meant for sale in Haryana State only).
The cases of liquor were further packed in plastic sacks to hide their identity. The vehicle was bearing a sticker of “ON BSF DUTY” on its front. The seized liquor is blended and bottled by M/s Radico Khaitan Ltd. at M/s N.V. Distilleries Ltd. Village Badholi, Naraingarh, Kalpi Road, Distt. Ambala, Haryana. The liquor was not bearing any manufacturing date / batch no. etc.
Besides the driver Ajay Kumar S/o Chhotan Lal R/o VPO Barsana, Tehsil Ch. Dadri Bhiwani, another person namely Sanjay Singh R/o Village & PO Mahrana, Tehsil Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani Haryana was also present in the vehicle. The vehicle alongwith seized liquor and the accused has been handed over to Excise & Taxation Officer, Kathua Range for proceeding further under the provisions of Excise Act.
