AMBALA (SATISH HANDA): Panjokhra police station Ambala on a information raided two godowns at village Mandour adjoining Ambala City and recovered two tanks of capacity 5500 litre each containing illicit liquor being filled in bottles having stickers of branded English wine. Police also recovered huge stocks of empty bottles, boxes, packing material and a ‘Tullu’ make pump set. A case was registered against Nikhil Patel originally hailing from Gujarat state hired two godows on rent from different persons in the area for production and storage of Alovera juice in a agreement with the owners but found bottling liquor in prominent English wine in Imperial Blue and Monk brands illegally for smuggling to Gujarat state – dry port where sale of liquor is completely banned by the government
Mohan Lal in-charge Panjokhra police station told that on Friday late night a complaint was received from Sandeep Wasan owner of Wasan Transport Ambala Cantt about illegal smuggling of 300 cases English wine to Baroda in Gujarat lifted from a godown at Mandour and fraud was detected by the driver when a case fell down while keeping in the truck and illicit wine bottles of value worth lakhs of rupees were packed in the cases instead of Alovera juice as specified in the Invoice as well as G.R. to deliver goods at Baroda having value worth Rs 1.60 lakh as mentioned in the invoice. Wasan immediately lodged complaint with police since carrying liquor in Gujarat is a serious offence incurring heavy fine.
The owner of the transport company told police that earlier 10 to 11 times similarly Nikhil Patel had booked consignment of Alovera juice to Gujarat. According to police, the matter was referred to Excise & Taxation department when their officers reached at the spot to find out from where liquor is being procured by liquor smuggler for onward smuggling to Gujarat sate. Rajesh Kalra SP Ambala told that the matter is being investigated by the police. Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar Sharma DC Ambala constitutes a committee comprising of Sachin Gupta SDM Ambala, DSP Headquarter and a senior officer from Excise & Taxation Department to investigate the case thoroughly and submit report.
