Chandigarh-Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday informed that in a joint operation carried out on September 13 by a group of officers of each the wings of the Excise and Taxation division, seized 6000 litres of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) saved in 30 plastic drums from a truck bearing registration quantity PB13-BF-0545 from Rajpura.
Disclosing this in a press assertion issued right here, Excise and Taxation Minister stated that the motive force of the car was arrested on the spot and after preliminary investigation, it was revealed by the motive force that the consignment was meant for supply to crackers godown at Dhuri district Sangrur. “Subsequently raids were conducted at the said godown and two more persons were arrested who were part of this nexus. Further investigations are underway”, stated Harpal Singh Cheema whereas including that this can be a main catch of ENA in current previous where-in ENA was being smuggled into the state of Punjab from Haryana.
The well timed motion of the Excise and Taxation groups have prevented a serious potential tragedy because the ENA smuggling and consumption usually results in hooch tragedies .He stated that on this case FIR no. 285 dated 13.09.2023 has been registered underneath part 61.01.14 and 78(2) of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 at police station Rajpura.
Revealing the motion taken by the Excise and Taxation division to tighten noose across the liquour smuggling, Harpal Singh Cheema stated that Excise division has been vigorously persevering with its tirade towards the smuggling of liquor/ENA and different liquor associated unlawful actions which has resulted into registration of about 3156 FIRs in final 5 months since April 1, 2023. In these FIRs, 3050 arrests have been made, 248938 litres of illicit liquor detected, 151891 litres of lahan recovered and destroyed, 90168 litres of PML/IMFL/Beer/Spirit have been seized, 125 working stills (bhattis) have been detected and destroyed.
Cheema stated that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has zero tolerance coverage so far as smuggling of liquor is anxious . He stated that he has directed the Finance Commissioner Taxation Vikas Partap and Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam to additional speed up this campaign towards liquor/ alcohol smuggling in future and no person concerned in liquor smuggling can be spared.