STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: With the arrest of two bootleggers, Reasi Police on Saturday detected involvement of two Jammu-based distilleries in selling liquor in the open market without paying the excise duty.
Udhampur-Reasi Range DIG Surinder Gupta said 416 pouches of excise liquor, measuring 250 ml each, were recovered from the bootlegger Vishal Sharma, son of Mohan Lal resident of Reasi and Rakesh Sharma alias Raju Gunda son of Bodh Raj resident of Katra. They were immediately arrested while their third accomplice Rakesh Kumar alias Manu, son of Hukam Chand resident of Reasi managed to flee.
Apprehending a big racket of tax evaders, the Deputy Excise Commissioner (Executive) Jammu has directed the ETO Doda – Udhampur Excise Range to inquire into the matter and furnish detailed information with regard to batch number, manufacturing date, name of manufacturing unit and serial number besides the hologram, if affixed, including the source of purchase.
The Excise Inspector of Doda Udhampur Excise Range has collected the required information along with samples of the pouches which indicated the seized liquor having been manufactured by M/S Rockland Distilleries Private Limited Bari Brahmna and M/S Ranson Industries Gangyal Jammu.
As per the report of the Inspector, the seized illicit liquor did not bear any batch number, manufacturing date and security hologram.
A three member committee of the excise officials has been constituted to unearth the nexus. Meanwhile, both the factories have been sealed.
DIG Surinder Gupta further said that the investigation carried out by the police and excise department have revealed that the seized liquor was being sold in the open market without paying the Excise Duty.
