ILLEGAL LIQUOR WORTH ₹25 LAKH SEIZED IN PANCHKULA, VEGETABLE-LADEN CONTAINER CARRYING FROM CHANDIGARH TO GUJARAT

Face2News/Panchkula

Panchkula Police has stepped up checking at nakas to curb the smuggling of illegal liquor. Acting on the directions of Police Commissioner IPS Pankaj Nain to maintain strict vigil and thoroughly inspect suspicious vehicles, the Crime Branch-3 team seized a large consignment of illegal liquor from a container near Suraj Cinema parking, Sector 1, and arrested its driver.

The accused had placed plastic crates of vegetables at the front of the container to mislead the police, while a large quantity of liquor cartons had been concealed behind them.

According to DCP Crime and Traffic IPS Amarinder Singh, the Crime Branch-3 team received secret information that Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Sonipat district, had loaded illegal liquor from Chandigarh and was transporting it in a truck container through Panchkula. Acting on the information, the police set up a naka on the road leading towards Suraj Cinema.

When the suspicious container was spotted in the morning, the driver allegedly tried to escape after seeing the police naka. He accelerated the vehicle and turned towards the Suraj Cinema parking area. The police team, led by Crime Branch-3 in-charge Ajit Singh, chased the container, stopped it and apprehended the driver, Rakesh Kumar.

During questioning, the driver claimed that vegetables were loaded in the container. However, a search revealed cartons of liquor concealed behind the plastic crates. When asked to produce a licence and permit for transporting the liquor, the driver failed to provide any valid documents.

The police recovered 564 cartons of illegal liquor, including Indian-made foreign liquor, country-made liquor and beer. Besides the liquor, 15 plastic crates and the container were also taken into possession.
Police Commissioner IPS Pankaj Nain said that a case has been registered against accused Rakesh Kumar at Sector 7 Police Station, Panchkula, under Section 61(1)(A) of the Haryana Excise (Amendment) Act. Further investigation is underway.

During preliminary questioning, the accused allegedly revealed that the liquor had been loaded in Chandigarh and was to be transported to Gujarat. The seized liquor is estimated to be worth approximately ₹25 lakh.

The Police Commissioner said the investigation would not be limited to the arrest of the driver. Police will work to identify the entire network involved in the smuggling operation. The accused will be produced before the court, and police remand will be sought to determine where the liquor was sourced, at whose direction it was loaded, who was to receive it in Gujarat and who else was involved in the illegal trade.

Panchkula Police has reiterated that strict action will continue against illegal liquor, narcotics and other unlawful activities. Police personnel deployed at nakas have been directed to remain vigilant and thoroughly check suspicious vehicles.

The police also appealed to the public to immediately report any information regarding the smuggling of liquor or other illegal goods. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.