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Hitender Rao
GURGAON, July 24: Sale of cheap liquor, smuggled into the district on a large scale, has been giving liquor contractors and excise officials sleepless nights. For the contractors, it translates into loss and for the excise department, a challenge since the parallel liquor lobby has started wielding tremendous clout since the days of prohibition.
GURGAON, July 24: Sale of cheap liquor, smuggled into the district on a large scale, has been giving liquor contractors and excise officials sleepless nights. For the contractors, it translates into loss and for the excise department, a challenge since the parallel liquor lobby has started wielding tremendous clout since the days of prohibition.
During raids conducted between July 7 to 17, the excise department has confiscated 90 bottles of liquor (IMFL and country), 138 halves and around 2,000 quarters besides 314 bottles of beer.
In Gurgaon, localities like Arjun Nagar, Bhim Nagar, Camp, Baldev Nagar and unauthorised colonies like Devi Lal Nagar, Rajeev Nagar, Rajindra Park, 4-8 Marla and Jacubpura locality are the main bases for storage and supply of smuggled liquor.
``These pockets have been a hotbed for smuggled liquor since the days of prohibition. Many people involved in smuggling liquor have now turned to selling cheap brands of liquor to earn a quick buck,'' said a police official.
``Our investigations have revealed that liquor is being smuggled within the state as well as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Since prices are comparatively low at places like Rewari and Bahadurgarh, large quantities are being brought to Gurgaon and sold clandestinely,'' said an excise official. The liquor recovered so far consists of cheap brands which are generally more popular among the lower income groups. ``The local contractors are not keeping these cheap brands and smugglers are taking advantage of this,'' said Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner K.S. Malik.
Liquor contractors are not amused and rue the fact that they are incurring losses to the tune of Rs 5-6 lakh a day. Ram Pal, one of the partners of the Kulwant Singh and Company, the consortium running all the vends in Gurgaon said: ``The fact that a majority of the liquor seized was from Madhya Pradesh, confirms that not only was liquor being brought in from the bordering districts but from other states as well.''
Excise officials are of the view that since the consortium is new to the area they have not been able to deal with the problem. ``It is virtually impossible for us to keep a round-the-clock vigil. Normally, the contractors have their own intelligence network and manpower to keep a tab on such activities,'' disclosed an excise official.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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