Chandigarh, December 18 - Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said that according to the report received from the Superintendent of Police, Yamunanagar and Ambala regarding deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor, 20 deaths have occurred due to consumption of suspected spurious liquor. 5 FIRs have been registered in this regard and a total of 52 arrests have been made in these two districts in which 36 accused have been found involved. Vij was replying to the calling attention motion moved in the ongoing winter session of the Haryana Assembly here today.
He said that the Superintendent of Police, Yamunanagar has informed that the police received information that a person resident of village Mandewari, Yamunanagar has been admitted to the hospital due to suspected consumption of spurious liquor. Police investigation revealed that spurious liquor was being sold from an illegal khurda run by a person named Rocky, a resident of Mandebari in the same village. In connection with which a criminal case was filed by the police and a thorough investigation was conducted. Investigation revealed an illegally running factory in village Dhanaura in Ambala district, where spurious liquor was being manufactured and distributed. A total of 5 FIRs (FIR No. 249 dated 08.11.2023, FIR No. 387 dated 10.11.2023, FIR No. 451 dated 11.11.2023, FIR No. 327 dated 09.11.2023 and FIR No. 410 dated 09.11.2023) have been registered in this case. done.
Mr Vij said that all aspects were thoroughly investigated by Yamunanagar and Ambala police, which resulted in the arrest of 36 accused, including the contractors, who were the original allottees of the shops. A total of 20 deaths (18 in Yamunanagar and 2 in Ambala) have occurred due to consumption of spurious liquor, including the death of two workers working in an illegally run liquor factory in village Dhanaura, Ambala, who consumed suspected spurious liquor. Had consumed. Apart from this, 5 sick people were discharged from the hospital after treatment. All the arrested accused are in judicial custody, except one accused who had consumed poisonous liquor and died during treatment.
Besides this, a compensation of Rs 32 lakh has so far been paid to the families/dependents of 8 deceased under the Dayalu Scheme, while others are under consideration. Till now the police has taken strict action against the accused. These cases are being investigated in an impartial manner.
The Excise and Taxation Department also initiated proceedings against M/s Mahendra Singh, L-13 licensee, District Yamunanagar in case of violation of excise rules for the year 2023-24. A fine of Rs 2,51,00,000/- was imposed by the Collector (Excise) vide 20.11.2023, and L-13 license was canceled vide 22.11.2023. Additionally, L-2/L-14A licenses of 11 zones of M/s Mahendra Singh in District Yamunanagar were canceled on the orders of Collector (Excise), Haryana in violation of the provisions of Section 37 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914. These 11 zones were re-allocated by the department in the auction.
He informed that before this incident of poisonous liquor on 07.11.2023, 2193 samples were taken from retail shops across the state and after 07.11.2023, a total of 2875 samples have been taken till now. Since the commencement of the Excise Policy 2023-24 (dated 12.06.2023), a total of 5068 samples have been taken from retail liquor sellers across the state. To stop the trade of illegal and spurious liquor, the police department has been taking intensive and prompt action at various levels. He said that from the year 2016 to the year 2023, 97895 cases have been registered, 104843 persons have been arrested and lakhs of liquor bottles have been recovered.
In addition to the above, a special campaign against illegal Khurda was conducted in the state from 11.11.2023 to 14.12.2023 in which 1463 arrests were made in a total of 1466 cases registered, which included country bottles - 43008, English bottles - 25419, beer bottles - 2057. , Lahan-7895 liters and raw liquor-939 were recovered. He informed that under the campaign on 12.12.2023, FIR No. 407 dated 12.12.2023 under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B IPC and 61 (1) (C), 63A, 72A-4-20 Excise Act, Police Station Dharuhera, Rewari. Was recorded. In which Old Monk Bottle-05, Country Liquor Pavve-13490, Old Monk Liquor Bottle Capping Machine, Bottle 500DS-08, Color Bottle 12 litres, a 65 liter drum of Caustic Caramel Sprint Soluble which was found to be 10 liters on measurement, Chemical 10 litres. , filled in a drum etc. have been recovered and during the investigation of the case, 13 drums of chemicals, one canter, 306 boxes of liquor and Rs 20000/- were also recovered.
Shri Vij said that as far as the total shortage of 75250 boxes in L-1 L-13 warehouses in various districts is concerned, it is mentioned here that as per the normal procedure of the department, from 07.11.2023 till now, L 18 cases of violation of L-1 licensees and 17 cases of violation of excise rules of L-13 licensees have been detected, in which 9,914 boxes and 59,435 boxes were found short respectively. In such cases, where L-1 and L-13 licensees are found to be violating the provisions of the Excise Policy 2023-24 to avoid additional excise duty, the Department will regularly issue a notification under clause 4.7 of the Excise Policy (which is applicable to L-13 licensees Penalties are imposed strictly as per clause 5.6 (which pertains to L-1 licensees).
The Home Minister said that the cases of death due to drug overdose are very less in Haryana. In the last 5 years i.e. from 2017- 2022, there have been 34 deaths due to drug overdose. As far as irregularities during the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic are concerned, the state government has taken several steps in this regard.
Formation of special investigation team
He informed that order number 6/2/2020-2HC. Under 11.05.2020, the Home Department, Haryana deputed Shri T.C. A Special Investigation Team (SET) was constituted under the chairmanship of Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Power, Empowerment, Renewable Energy and Housing Department.
Similarly, on July 30, 2020, the Special Investigation Team (S.E.T.) submitted its report to the Government with recommendations to take appropriate action against individual officers/employees for the lapses mentioned in the report and in the functioning of the Excise Department. Suggestions/recommended measures for systematic improvement are also included. Necessary action was/initiated on the basis of the said report. Apart from this, it was also decided by the government that the entire matter should be investigated by the State Vigilance Bureau.
Formation of a committee under the chairmanship of Additional Director General of Police
He said that as a follow up of the report of the Special Investigation Team, a committee headed by Smt. Kala Ramachandran, Additional Director General of Police and another committee headed by Shrikant Jadhav, Additional Director General of Police were constituted and 27 police personnel were booked in 14 cases. Action has been taken against.
Investigation conducted by Anti Corruption Bureau
He informed that in compliance with the order of the Chief Secretary Office, investigation number 04 dated 01.09.2020 has been registered in the Anti Corruption Bureau, Haryana. The collusion of some Excise and Taxation Department officials as well as some police officials in the large unauthorized movement of liquor during the lockdown will be investigated and the report will be submitted to the government.