State Excise Department registered 131 cases against illegal liquor, arrested 110 accused: goods worth Rs.

Ratnagiri, 16: Since the implementation of the Code of Conduct for the Legislative Assembly General Election 2024 till date, the State Excise Department has registered a total of 131 cases against illegal liquor and arrested 110 accused. Hatbhatti’s village liquor 3349 liters, country liquor 66.42 bulk liters, foreign liquor 82.26 bulk liters, foreign liquor for sale in Goa state 9795.97 bulk liters, chemical 41505 liters and two Eicher Tempo and Maruti Swift cars illegally transporting liquor. Superintendent of State Excise Department Kirti Shedge informed that the total value of Rs 1 crore 33 lakh 83 thousand 95 including vehicles has been seized.

In accordance with the Legislative Assembly General Election 2024 in the state of Maharashtra. The code of conduct has come into effect from October 15. The possibility of production, transportation and sale of illegal liquor during the period from the announcement of the program of the Assembly General Election 2024 till the announcement of the results cannot be ruled out. The State Excise Department has a close eye on illegal liquor, and 4 teams have been appointed by this department to take strict action against it. All squads have been instructed to prevent illicit traffic of foreign/illegal liquor, night patrolling, checking of suspicious vehicles as well as prevention of illegal liquor business. The teams are constantly taking action against illegal liquor. Since January, 2024 till date, good behavior bonds amounting to Rs.16 lakhs have been taken from the accused who are continuously involved in illegal liquor trade in 28 cases under Section 93 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949.

Since the implementation of the Assembly General Election Code of Conduct, this department has been conducting inspection of passenger and cargo vehicles on Mumbai-Goa, Kolhapur-Ratnagiri, Chiplun-Karad highways. Also, in order to prevent illegal liquor from being transported by train from Goa state, in coordination with the Konkan Railway Administration, along with the railway police, passengers’ baggage is being checked suddenly. Action against illegal liquor by the State Excise Department will continue.

The State Excise Department is calling upon the State Excise Department to contact the department on WhatsApp number-8422001133 and toll-free number- 8422001133 if it is noticed that there is any production, sale, transportation and storage of illegal liquor from foreign states, sale of fake liquor anywhere in the district. The name of the person reporting the information/information regarding illegal liquor will be kept confidential by this department.