Under the able guidance of Rajat Agarwal Excise Commissioner, Punjab, Mohinish Chawla, I.G.P. Excise and Taxation, Punjab and Sh. Naresh Dubey, Joint Commissioner (Excise) a major operation was conducted under the supervision of Sh. A.P.S. Ghuman, A.I.G. (E&T), Sh. Rajpal S. Khaira, Deputy Commissioner (Excise), and Sh. Vinod Pahuja, A.C. (X) by Excise Department and a breakthrough has been got wherein an organized module of liquor smuggling from neighboring States has been busted.A secret information was received that Dheeraj Kumar R/o Village Hiana Kalan, Nabha, Ravi and Rampal Liquor Contractors of Haryana, Pappu alias Pappa R/o Village Mohie, Ludhiana, Narinder Singh S/o Ramesh Singh R/o Rajpura, Amritpal Singh R/o Rampura Phul and others are involved in smuggling of huge quantity of illegal liquor in their vehicles from Haryana and selling it in the area around Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. The Joint raiding parties consisting of Excise teams and Excise Police teams were operationalized.On tip off the operational teams were deputed for the reccee and locating the suspected vehicle used by the smugglers. After the confirmation that the vehicle has been loaded and sent to State of Punjab a special nakabandi was done at T Point G.T. Road, Village Mehmudpur Jattan, Shambhu. The team successfully apprehended the vehicle no. PB10BK6683 and a pilot vehicle white Bolero HR20AJ2324.
On the first look the vehicle used for smuggling seemed empty but on close inspection of the vehicle it was found that a special cabin has been fabricated in it to conceal the liquor. On checking the cabin 310 cases (3720 bottles) liquor brand First Choice (For Sale in Harayana Only) was detected from the vehicle. The smuggled liquor was meant to be supplied to Pappu Alias Pappa of village Mohie, Ludhiana. The liquor was being smuggled by Dheeraj Kumar of Hiana Kalan, Nabha who is a known notorious smuggler and already accused in FIR No. 8/21 U/s 61-1-14 of Punjab Excise Act and 465,467, 468, 471, 473,120b of IPC PS Sadar Kurali for smuggling of liquor from Haryana. In this regard FIR no. 28 dated 17.02.21 U/s 61-1-14, 78 (2) Punjab Excise Act PS Shambhu has been registered against the accused and two were arrested from the spot.The accused smugglers have modified their vehicle so as to hoodwink the enforcement authorities by making concealed cabins. Entire chain of forward and backward linkages leading to disclosure of the main suppliers and recipient of smuggled liquor from Haryana and Punjab is being pursued expeditiously during the investigation. Excise Department and Excise Police Department have formed a Joint front in fight against illegal smuggled liquor under Operation Red Rose. Stringent legal action will be initiated against anyone involved in smuggling of illegal liquor.