Liquor for votes: Teams to maintain vigil

GURUGRAM: The excise department has constituted seven teams, comprising 50 officials, including nine police officers at the district level, to monitor recordings of CCTV cameras installed at liquor shops to curb the use of alcohol to influence voters in the run-up to assembly polls. The state goes to polls on October 21.

Officials said they have warned liquor shop owners against selling liquor on the basis of “coupon or token” and directed them to strictly adhere to the timings.

All liquor vends will remain closed between September 19 and 21, from 5pm. The shops will also be closed on September 24, the counting day.

Excise areas are divided into east and west Gurugram, including Pataudi and Sohna, having 340 liquor vends in total. The department has seized 500 liquor bottles worth ₹12 lakh in the last week, said officials.

HC Dahiya, deputy commissioner of excise and taxation, Gurugram (west), said they have constituted three teams consisting seven members each for the west zone, assigned the task of monitoring footage of CCTV cameras installed at all retail shops on alternate days. “We are conducting intensive checks to curb the illegal sale and distribution of liquor during elections. Three teams, headed by the assistant excise taxation officer (AETO) and excise taxation officer, have been constituted for this purpose,” he said.

Dahiya said anyone found in possession of more than 12 liquor bottles would be fined and the bottles, confiscated. “If anyone found is carrying more than 12 bottles, especially for selling, a fine between ₹50 and ₹500 will be imposed and the bottles will be destroyed,” he said, adding that liquor vends found open beyond the permissible timings will not be allowed to operate for the next seven days.

The department has also directed liquor vend owners to ensure their CCTV cameras are intact and the footage for the entire day is available.

Sneh Lata Yadav, DETC (east), said that they have formed four excise teams, which have been checking liquor vends since September 12 and sending daily reports to the headquarters, which is later is sent to the excise commission. “Our teams are deployed at all crucial spots, including wholesale depots, to ensure there is no illegal movement of liquor and no one is entertained directly by them. Strict directions have been passed and no liquor vend can sell more than 12 bottles to one person,” she said.

Officials will submit a report each day, after monitoring a minimum of 15 minutes of footage from each establishment. Officials of the taxation department have also been roped in for the inspections.