Licence fees not paid, five liquor vends sealed in Kangra

The Excise Department in Kangra district has sealed five liquor shops in the Alampur and Mainjha areas after the contractor failed to deposit the licence fees amounting to Rs 1.83 crore.

A senior excise official said that they had issued a notice to the contractor in August, directing him to clear the dues. Instead of making the payment, the contractor challenged the notice in court, which, however, directed him to pay the full amount by October 31.

The department issue another notice to him on October 23 and warned him that all liquor vends allotted to the contractor would be sealed if he did not make payment in time. However, the contractor again approached court, seeking more time. The court granted extended time till December 15 but also told him that he would be liable to pay a penalty of Rs 25 lakh.

Later, the contractor withdrew his petition, following which the court dismissed the plea and imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on him. Later, the Excise Department issued a fresh notice and sealed his liquor vends on Tuesday evening.

The official said that a case regarding the sealing of vends would now be sent to the Collector-cum-Joint Commissioner, Palampur. The contractor would be given a week to deposit the pending licence fee, including the penalty imposed on him, failing which further departmental action would be taken against him. A separate legal action would also be initiated against him to attach his properties so as to recover the dues.