UP’s forceful drive against illicit liquor trade continues

In view of the recent tragic incidents in the state of UP, the Chief Minister of UP, Yogi Adityanath has directed to take strict action against those involved in the trade of illicit liquor in UP.

In compliance of this and also under the instructions of the Excise Minister of UP, the Additional Chief Secretary, Excise Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh has informed that in view of the loss of life due to consumption of illicit liquor in UP during the previous years, Excise Act has been amended in the year 2018 by introducing Section 60-A, under which death or life imprisonment has been provided as the penalty for adulteration of any intoxicant which results in the death of a person.

It was also informed by the Additional Chief Secretary of UP that under the ongoing special drive being conducted since 18th November for the prevention of manufacture, sale and smuggling of illicit liquor in UP , 888 cases have been registered in UP in which 18,286.40 litres illegal
liquor have been seized and 1,52,575.00 kg of lahan used in the manufacture of illicit liquor has been destroyed on the spot. 283 persons involved in supply of illicit liquor have been arrested.

During the inspection of the country liquor shop Sikrari in district Etah, 25 litres of illicit spirit, 83 fake pouches and 1 roll of fake QR codes and caramel have been recovered. In Agra district, 15 illicit liquor pouches have also been recovered from Kalal Khedia, a country liquor shop. FIRshave been registered against the licensees in both the cases.

In district Pratapgarh, 88.20 litres of illegal country liquor and 1310.00 litres illegal foreign liquor of Haryana state were recovered and 2 persons were arrested from the spot.

Additional Chief Secretary of UP also disclosed that instructions were given to all the DEOs/DCs/JECs to inspect and collect samples from liquor shops during the ongoing special drive and get them tested in the regional laboratories. In compliance of the above order, 14,892 samples have been collected from 12,957 shops inspected till now. The samples are being sent to Excise Laboratories of Meerut, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Prayagraj for examination.

Furthermore, all the field level officers in UP have been instructed to conduct a thorough inspection of the excise shops in UP and to keep special vigil of the shops of licensees with suspicious conduct.