Despite regular crackdown on errant liquor shops following reports of sale of liquor brands at a higher rate than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), illegal practice of charging Rs10-Rs15 per bottle still continues under the very nose of the excise authorities. Though a Complaint Number 2202644 has been released by the department, it is yet to get control over the shopkeepers.
“It has become a regular practice at the liquor shops who are charging at least Rs10-Rs15 per bottle from each of the customer. When we ask for a receipt, they hand over a duplicate bill to us without having the name and address of the shop written on it; the receipt does not even contain the name of the brand of the liquor,” said a customer Mrityunjay Srivastava (name changed.
“The problem has been worsened after August 31 as everything was going smooth after a crackdown of excise department over some of the liquor shops last month. The shopkeepers again have again started charging extra money from us without giving any reasons behind it,” said another person Roshan Kumar.
“And when questioned for charging more than the MRP, one of the liquor shopkeeper even said that it was their decision—either take it or leave it,” Kumar added.
When asked for the reasons behind charging extra money for every bottle, they tacitly revealed that the extra money was for the officials of excise department. “When I tried to enquire about this illegal practice, the shopkeeper replied very humbly that it was impossible for them to run a shop if they do not charge this extra money from the customers,” Kumar said.
Though most of the shopkeepers chose to keep mum on the question, but one of the shopkeepers on the condition of anonymity opened up his heart. “From where we will fill up the pockets of excise officials who open their mouth like anything, along with a threat to get our shops closed if their demands were not met,” he said.
Excise officials on the other hand, claim that the licensee shopkeepers are bound to sell liquor on the printed price or face action if found to be involved in any kind of incongruity with the said rules and regulations.
“Every licensee has to sell liquor on MRP printed on the bottle. If any licensee does not sell liquor on the printed MRP, one can make a complaint against him on the given complaint number 0651-2202644 following which the department will take strict action against such licensees,” said Assistant Excise Commissioner Rakesh Kumar.
Number of complaints registered in the last three days was an all time high, with a total of 44 complaints against different liquor shops across the Ranchi district.
“Notices have been issued against all of them giving them a time till September 5 to come with an explanation on the basis of which proper action will be taken against them,” said another official of the excise department. Circle Sub-Inspectors have also been directed to move to the shops and look into the matter by visiting personally at all those errant liquor shops.
Before August 31 however, a total of 19 complaints had been received against which action was taken imposing fine of those shops.
“Earlier also, as many as 66 reports of irregularity had been registered by the department and a fine of Rs 4 lakh and 55 thousand was collected from them. In addition to that, five shops of foreign liquor and three shops of country liquor were also sealed in Ranchi by the department following complaints were received against them were found to be true,” said the Assistant Commissioner.