Team Herald
PANJIM: A Goan excise inspector, who is supposed to keep a vigil on bootlegging and smuggling of liquor, was apparently caught red-handed in Karnataka while trying to transport Goa-manufactured liquor, last week.
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Excise Inspector Pramod Vishwanath Juvekar was on Monday suspended after Karnataka’s Excise Department arrested him for allegedly transporting Goa-manufactured liquor in his car at Kagodu, near Sagar city, Shivamogga.
Commissioner of Excise Sarpreet Singh Gill issued the suspension order after the Karnataka Excise Department on Monday informed its Goa counterparts about Juvekar’s arrest.
Juvekar hailing from Betul was arrested on Thursday, on the charge of transporting liquor in a Goa-registered vehicle at Kagodu, Shivamogga in Karnataka. The Karnataka Excise department also seized the liquor consignment.
Following a tip-off, the Sub-Divisional excise officials conducted a raid. Juvekar was caught while he had parked his vehicle GA-08-F-3312 in a field near a crematorium at Kagodu, while waiting to deliver the consignment to a prospective buyer.
During the search operation, the excise officials seized 138.06 litres of Goa-manufactured liquor from Juvekar’s vehicle. The value of the seized liquor is Rs 68,000. The excise officials have also seized the vehicle involved in the crime.
A case has been registered against Juvekar under Sections 8, 11, and 15 of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, along with Sections 32(A), 38(A), and 43(A) of the same Act.
The accused was produced before the Court and has been remanded in judicial custody.
Juvekar was posted in one of the liquor factories in Canacona taluka. Sources revealed that he had purchased the liquor and smuggled it to Karnataka on Holi eve, as the liquor often fetches double the rates and on festive occasions it is priced even higher in the neighbouring State.
The excise operation was led by Karnataka Deputy Superintendent of Excise Sheela Darjkar, along with Inspector Bhagyalakshmi and excise personnel Sandeep L C, Gurumurthy, Deepak, Mallikarjun and Sachin.
