980 cases of liquor seized, driver held

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 22

Foiling an attempt of liquor smuggling from Chandigarh to Punjab, a team of the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department arrested a truck driver and seized 980 cases from the vehicle. The truck has been impounded.

According to Shalin Walia, Assistant Commissioner of State Tax, the team, led by Ashok Chalotra, STO, nabbed Palwinder Singh, a resident of Kum Kalan, Ludhiana, at Phase XI here early this morning.

He said on searching the truck, the team seized 980 cases of liquor, including 60 cases of Royal Arms, Royal Stag and Imperial Blue (Indian-made foreign liquor) and 920 cases of other brands. “The liquor was bottled at M/s Alcobrew Bottlers, Industrial Area, Chandigarh, and M/s Super Distillers, Industrial Area, Chandigarh, for sale in the UT only,” said the official. He said the liquor was being smuggled from Chandigarh to Ludhiana.

The DSP concerned, Ramandeep Singh, said the truck owner had been identified as Sundeep Singh, alias Seepa, of Simlapuri, Ludhiana. “Seepa was in his car ahead of the truck at the time of the incident. However, he managed to flee,” said the DSP, adding that raids were on to arrest him.

A case in this connection has been registered under Section 61(1) of the Punjab Excise Act-1914 at the Phase XI police station.