Team Herald
PONDA/Canacona: In two separate raids, a whole sale liquor unit in Canacona was sealed and liquor worth Rs 16.78 lakh was seized; while in Ponda, liquor worth Rs 80,000 that was being transported from Bethora to Dhavlim was seized.
A wholesale liquor outlet selling IMFL and other liquor products was raided by a police team headed by SDPO, Quepem Kiran Poduval on Thursday in Canacona. Upon inability of the owner to furnish licence required to store and sell liquor products, the outlet was sealed by police.
Speaking to media after sealing the popular wholesale liquor shop near KTC bus stand at Chaudi in Canacona SDPO, Quepem Uttam Raut Desai said that they seized liquor worth Rs 16. 78 lakhs; as well as cash in the counter amounting to Rs 17,535. He said it is one of the biggest seizures in recent times.
“I had prior information that this particular liquor wholesale outlet was operating without licence. After coming to Canacona, I visited the shop and found out that liquor was stored and sold without license since the past one year,” said SDPO Kiran Poduval. Later the local police were called and the shop was sealed. Sources added that the person who was at the shop at the time of the raid was detained. The report regarding the seizure of the liquor will be submitted to the Excise Department for further action.
Elsewhere, the Ponda Police team led by PSI Rifa Barreto seized liquor worth around Rs 80,000 on Thursday evening. The liquor was being transported from Bethora to Dhavlim without legal documents. Four people were taken into custody and later handed over to the Excise Department for further action. Earlier one Bethora local was arrested for transportation of liquor on Bethora–Borim road. Flying squads in the area are on high alert in view of the ongoing code of conduct with the LS polls and Shiroda by-poll.
