PERNEM: The Excise flying squad seized illegal liquor worth Rs 10 lakh at Patradevi checkpost on Tuesday evening.The vehicle transporting the illegal liquor was attached.
According to information received from excise officials, the vehicle was transporting liquor to Ahmedabad from Goa in the guise of transporting furniture polish. However, the officials stopped the vehicle at Patradevi check post for checking and after inspection it was found loaded with 115 cartons of 960 IMFL bottles and 1,200 beer cans.
During the inquiry, the driver informed that vehicle was transporting wood furniture polish as per the bill produced but during physical inspection liquor cartons were found which were loaded from Panjim.
Commissioner Amit Satija stated, “The Excise flying squad on suspicion checked the Maharashtra registered vehicle at Patradevi checkpost and during inquiry, the driver produced a bill which mentioned wooden furniture polish from Margao to Ahmedabad. On interrogation, the driver feigned ignorance about the liquor and told the team that vehicle was loaded in Panjim and that he is unaware about the content. The team foiled an attempt to smuggle liquor from Goa to Gujarat and is now probing in the involvement of the people in this case. Further investigation is in progress”.
Team comprised of Jaiyesh Bandekar, Kusta Tari, Shamba Parab, Raymond Pereira, Siddhesh Halarnkar, Ramchandra Acharya and Ramkrishna Mandrekar.
The driver has been booked for illegally possessing and transporting liquor without any valid permit under the Goa Excise Duty Act 1964 and Rules. The liquor worth Rs 5,29,800 and the vehicle have been seized.
