Accused made huge profits by making spurious liquor

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Police have been requested to ascertain from where the accused were procuring ENA as it is made in only 17 liquor distilleries. EXCISE OFFICIAL

PATIALA: The illegal distillerycum-liquor-bottling plant, which was unearthed at Ghanaur in this district on Thursday, was making huge money during the lockdown by selling illicit liquor under the guise of popular brands.

The accused, who were operating the distillery from a cold store, were making liquor by diluting extra neutral alcohol (ENA), which is available at a cheap price, and sold it at exorbitant rates.

“ENA costs Rs 52 per litre and has 70% of alcohol. It’s basic raw material for every hard drink. For human consumption, you have to dilute it to 40% alcohol by mixing water, and give a flavour of your popular whisky or desi brand by adding readymade flavours and colours, which are easily available in the market. For example, they packed it as Royal Stag whisky at a cost of Rs 40 per 750 ML, which is sold as 400 per bottle in illicit market, whereas its price at the vends is above Rs 500,” said an excise official.

He said the police have been

requested to ascertain from where the accused were procuring ENA as it is made in only 17 liqour distilleries.

Khanpur Khurd sarpanch Amrik Singh, who is also an aide of Congress MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur; and Dipesh Kumar of Rajpura were booked after Thursday’s raid.

MLA KAMBOJ DENIES LINK WITH ACCUSED

However, Rajpura MLA Hardial Singh Kamboj said that he has no links with accused Dipesh Kumar.

“I have not met him or spoken to him on phone for the past oneand-a-half years. How can anyone link him with me? Its misinformation spread by my political opponents. Dipesh is relative of a former BJP MLA of the area,” he said.

OPPN SEEKS PROBE INTO ROLE OF CONG LEADERS

Meanwhile, leader of opposition and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harpal Singh Cheema demanded a probe into the role of Congress leaders into the matter.

Akali Dal leader Prem Singh Chandumajra and Surjit Singh Rakhra alleged that it was political plunder of the state exchequer and demanded attachment of the property of the accused to recover the loss in excise revenues.