Whistleblower accuses Sirsa excise officer of hiding RTI records on illegal liquor trade

A local whistleblower has accused the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (DETC), Sirsa, of deliberately withholding information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding illegal liquor vends and suspected hooch distillation units in the district. The allegations were made by Kartar Singh of Agarsen Colony in a complaint submitted to Superintendent of Police, Deputy Commissioner and City Police Station SHO.

Singh said he filed an RTI application on September 23, 2025, with the DC Office seeking details of liquor shops allegedly operating at prohibited locations. The DC Office acknowledged the request on October 3 and forwarded it to the SPIOs of the Excise Department and the District Education Office. Singh said he also deposited the mandatory fee as required under RTI rules.

However, no department responded within the stipulated time. Singh then filed a first appeal on November 12, which the DC Office forwarded to the First Appellate Authorities of both the DEO and DETC offices on November 18.

According to Singh, while the DEO fixed a hearing for December 9, the Excise Department denied receiving either the original RTI application or the appeal. The department, in a letter dated December 2, stated that no such papers had reached its office. Singh termed this denial false, asserting that both documents had been officially routed through the DC Office.

He alleged that the DETC’s refusal amounted to “criminal omission,” as the officer was legally bound to provide information on liquor vends, suspected hooch units and related public complaints. Singh claimed the alleged concealment was aimed at protecting vendors operating near highways, schools, public spaces and religious places — locations where liquor shops are prohibited by law.

In his complaint, Singh said the Excise Department’s conduct violated the RTI Act, ignored public grievances and undermined efforts to curb illegal liquor trade and NDPS-linked activities. He argued that denying an RTI application forwarded by the DC Office was a serious breach of duty and could amount to contempt of Supreme Court guidelines.

Calling the December 2 communication “a deliberate attempt to hide information,” Singh urged authorities to register a criminal case against the DETC and ensure transparency in the enforcement of excise regulations.

Meanwhile, DETC (Excise) Kanwal Nain refuted the allegations, saying the department had already provided a detailed reply to Kartar Singh’s RTI and that the claims made by him “do not relate to our department.”