14 bootleggers held, nine FIRs filed, 5,724 bottles of hooch seized by Excise Dept
In a major drive against illicit liquor, Delhi Government Excise Department has arrested 14 bootleggers and registered nine FIRs besides recovering 5,724 bottles of illicit liquor of different brands. The department has also seized seven vehicles in this connection. With the recent recovery, the department has seized a total of 31,680 bottles of illicit liquor so far this year. According to Excise Commissioner JB Singh, duty was not paid for a lot of illicit liquor bottles in the Capital and these were being carried by the accused unauthorised.
“The Excise Intelligence Bureau of the department has seized 5,724 bottles of illicit liquor of different brands from various parts of the national Capital during a special drive. Total nine FIRs have been registered and 14 people are arrested,” Excise Commissioner JB Singh said. The Excise Commissioner said that seven vehicles have also been seized.
According to Singh, the excise team has arrested Kalu Ram from Kanjhawala and recovered 120 bottles of Party Special Whisky, 528 bottles of Rasila Santra and 180 bottles of Beer. He was carrying these bottles for sale in Haryana. Similarly, two persons — Virpal and Hari Singh, who were carrying 468 bottles of Party Special Whisky for sale in Haryana, were arrested. Their Tata Safari SUV was also seized by the excise officials. In the third case, excise officials arrested Anil Kumar from Najafgarh who was also carrying 300 bottles of Besto Whisky and 540 bottles of Rasila Santra for sale in Haryana was nabbed. His car was also seized. In the fourth case, two persons from Narela — Virender Sharma and Aadal — who were carrying 2,510 liquor bottles for sale in Haryana, were nabbed and their vehicles were also seized. In the fifth case, two persons Madan Sahni and Mithu arrested from libas Pur, Delhi for carrying 336 bottles of Asli Santra and 72 bottles of Besto Whisky for sale in Haryana.
“Till now, the Excise Department has seized 31,680 bottles of illicit liquor in Delhi,” Singh added. He said raids will continue in the Capital to check bootlegging. According to Delhi excise rules, no individual can stock more than 18 litres of wine or beer, nine litres of Indian Made Foreign liquor (IMFl) or anything above three litres of countrymade liquor at home or for parties. These norms have been in place since 2010, when the Delhi excise rules were first notified. Under the laws an excess of regulated amounts of alcohol can lead to a penalty of `1 lakh and a jail term for up to three years.