Pilfered imported scotch whisky to be supplied in Anngarh: Police

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 5

The blended grain scotch whisky pilfered from two tankers confiscated by the Punjab Police was being supplied in Anngarh area for further dilution, distribution and sale. This came to light during the interrogation of four suspects who were caught red-handed by the Punjab Police while pilfering liquor on Chabal Road in Tarn Taran on Sunday.

According to the police, they found the names of Bobby and Jagga in the mobiles of four suspects. Though the raids were conducted at the residences of the suspects, both along with their family members had gone underground following the seizure.

The police had arrested Dharminder Singh, Chamkaur Singh and Manohar Singh, all residents of Tarn Taran, and Sarvan Singh of Sue Wali Havelian in Sanghna village here. Their fifth accomplice Gursharan Singh of Sanghna village managed to flee from the spot.

“We have zeroed in on two bootleggers, identified as Bobby and Jagga, during interrogation and four accused and raids were on to nab them. Investigation revealed that the arrested accused used to supply the pilfered imported scotch whisky in the Anngarh area falling under the Amritsar city police,” said Maninder Singh, SHO, Gharinda police station. For years, Anngarh remained a hotbed for bootleggers.

Acting on a tip-off, the Punjab Police along with Excise Department officials had confiscated two tankers containing 42,000 litres of 3-year-old blended grain scotch whisky worth Rs 2 crore here on Sunday. The accused were pilfering the blended grain scotch whisky on Chabal Road in Tarn Taran.

The seized liquor was meant for United Spirits Limited at Khasa and was imported from a foreign consignor – Diageo Brands BV at Amsterdam, Netherlands. It arrived at Nava Sheva dry port in Mumbai.

A preliminary probe found that the accused used to pilfer liquor from tankers and put it in 200-ltr drums which would be further sold at Rs 10,000 per drum. After dilution, it would be sold to liquor smugglers. They had planned to pilfer three drums of alcohol while transporting the remaining at the Khasa distillery.

The police said the accused were hired by a Haryana-based contractor, identified as Satish alias Tau, working for a transportation company. “We are yet to nab him and his arrest would further expose the entire nexus,” said police sources.

A case under relevant sections of the Excise Act and different sections of the IPC, including fraud and criminal conspiracy, has been registered against them.