States initiating steps to curb illicit liquor

According to the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Narayana Swamy, 32,390 people have been arrested in Andhra Pradesh during the last two months for selling illicit liquor.

The Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB), which has been constituted to curb illegal transport and manufacture of liquor in Andhra Pradesh, has registered 24,414 cases and seized 8,691 vehicles for illegal transport of liquor in the state.

Sanjay R. Bhoosreddy, Additional Chief Secretary, Excise Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, has informed that with the objective of providing standard liquor to consumers in the state at its fixed MRP and to ensure proper increase in the revenues of the state, a continuous enforcement drive against illegal liquor is being carried out in Uttar Pradesh.

During the last four days of the drive, 403 cases have been registered in the various districts of the state in which 10,529 litres illegal liquor have been seized. Along with it, five vehicles involved in the work of illegal liquor trade have been seized and 38 persons sent to jail.

The Additional Chief Secretary has told that after the opening of liquor shops in the current financial year, as a result of the action taken to curb the sale of liquor at a rate higher than the prescribed MRP, 93 cases of over rating have been caught so far. Action is being taken as per rules against those shops.