Seizure of a massive amount of liquor by law enforcing agencies ahead of the February 7 Delhi Assembly elections is an indicator that a serious attempt was being made by candidates across party lines to distribute booze to influence voters.
Delhi Police and the Excise Intelligence Unit of the Delhi Excise Department have recovered 1.35 lakh liquor bottles of different makes. The recovery is so huge because liquor was being smuggled into the National Capital from neighbouring States, especially Haryana.
The poll watchdog lodged 173 FIRs against political parties and candidates. As campaigning came to a close at 6 pm on Thursday, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi held a meeting in which he said that 45 extra excise teams have been deputed this time to ensure that the Model Code of Conduct issued by the Election Commission for the Delhi Assembly polls is followed.
“We have sought full cooperation from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, our neighbouring States,” said Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi. 1,689 bottles, 274 pints, 57,354 quarters and 10 litres of country liquor have been seized, whereas 3,810 bottles, 5,984 pints, 63,664 quarters of IMFl liquor has also been confiscated.
Meanwhile, with the Election Commission declaring a dry day 48 hours before polling day and also on counting day on February 10, the sale of liquor has been banned in the city and in areas that fall within an eight km radius of Delhi’s borders.
Not just that, the ban will also be applicable on all pubs, hotels, including starred-ones, clubs and restaurants regardless of issuance of licenses to them for possession or supply of liquor. The Excise Department is monitoring liquor vendors and sale of spurious liquor to ensure strict observance of dry days, officials in the department said.
“Violation of any of these measures can lead to two years of imprisonment. Pubs, star hotels and restaurants cannot buy or serve liquor to anyone even if they posses licenses for supply of liquor,” said Kumar.
In order to ensure smooth polls, the EC has deployed 1,175 sector officers and they will augment surveillance activities and closely monitor poll preparation during the last 48 hours before the poll date. Till now 254 FIRs have been lodged and 259 people arrested under Arms Act and Excise Act.