The efforts of the Excise Department tocrackdown on illicit liquor smuggling under ‘Operation Red Rose’ got a majorsuccess on Thursday with the busting of an organized module from theneighbouring States.
Disclosing this, a spokesperson of theDepartment said that under the guidance of Excise Commissioner Rajat Agarwal,I.G.P. Excise and Taxation Mohinish Chawla and Joint Commissioner (Excise)Naresh Dubey, a major operation was conducted under the supervision of A.I.G.(E&T) A.P.S. Ghuman, Deputy Commissioner (Excise) Rajpal S. Khaira and A.C.(X) Vinod Pahuja, by the department.
A secret information was received that DheerajKumar R/o Village Hiana Kalan, Nabha, Ravi and Rampal Liquor Contractors ofHaryana, Pappu alias Pappa R/o Village Mohie, Ludhiana, Narinder Singh S/oRamesh Singh R/o Rajpura, Amritpal Singh R/o Rampura Phul and others areinvolved in smuggling of huge quantity of illegal liquor in their vehicles fromHaryana and selling it in the area around Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib districts,said the spokesperson adding the joint raiding parties consisting of Exciseteams and Excise police teams immediately swung into action.
Pointing out further, the spokesperson saidthat on tip off, the operational teams were deputed for the reccee and locatingthe suspected vehicle used by the smugglers. After the confirmation that thevehicle has been loaded and sent to State of Punjab, a special nakabandi wasdone at T-Point G.T. Road, Village Mehmudpur Jattan, Shambhu. The teamsuccessfully apprehended the vehicle no. PB10BK6683 and a pilot vehicle whiteBolero HR20AJ2324. On the first look the vehicle used for smuggling seemedempty but on close inspection of the vehicle it was found that a special cabinhas been fabricated in it to conceal the liquor and hoodwink the authorities,revealed the spokesperson.
The spokesperson also said that on checking thecabin, 310 cases (3720 bottles) liquor brand First Choice (For Sale in HaryanaOnly) were found which was meant to be supplied to Pappu Alias Pappa of villageMohie, Ludhiana.
The liquor was being smuggled by Dheeraj Kumar of Hiana Kalan,Nabha who is a known notorious smuggler and already accused in FIR No. 8/21 U/s61-1-14 of Punjab Excise Act and 465,467, 468, 471, 473,120b of IPC PS SadarKurali for smuggling of liquor from Haryana, said the spokesperson adding thatan FIR no. 28 dated 17.02.21 U/s 61-1-14, 78 (2) Punjab Excise Act PS Shambhuhas been registered in this regard against the accused and two were arrestedfrom the spot.
Notably, the entire chain of forward andbackward linkages leading to disclosure of the main suppliers and recipient ofsmuggled liquor from Haryana and Punjab is being pursued expeditiously duringthe investigation. The Excise Department and Excise Police Department haveformed a Joint front in fight against illegal smuggled liquor under OperationRed Rose and stringent legal action will be initiated against anyone involvedin smuggling of illegal liquor.