Punjab treating illicit liquor cases with kid gloves: SC
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the progress in investigation into some cases of illicit liquor trade in Punjab and said the state is treating the issue with “kid gloves”.
The apex court, which observed that poor and downtrodden people are the “sufferers” of hooch tragedies, directed the Punjab excise department to apprise it about the particulars concerning certain FIRs that have been lodged in this regard.
A bench of justices MR Shah and MM Sundresh said it appears that no serious efforts seem to have been made to reach the real culprits who are in the business of manufacturing and transporting illegal liquor.
“You are treating it with kids’ glove,” the bench observed.
The top court was hearing a plea arising out of a September 2020 order of the Punjab and Haryana high court that had disposed of a petition seeking transfer of some FIRs registered in Punjab in relation to distillation of spurious liquor, its sale and inter-state smuggling, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The high court had disposed of the plea in terms of the statement made by the state’s counsel who had assured the court that concerns raised by petitioners would be duly dealt with and suitable action be initiated, if necessary.
During the hearing before the apex court, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, said that according to the counter affidavit filed by the excise department, some actions have been taken against certain distilleries including suspension of licences and levy of penalties or duties. He said only petty labourers who work in such factories have been chargesheeted in such cases and no politician or police official has been prosecuted. “Let us see what kind of allegations are made in these FIRs,” the bench said. The state’s counsel said these FIRs are not on record. The top court observed that cancelling licences is not enough unless there is a deterrent. “In a hooch tragedy, who is the sufferer? Not those who can afford whisky. Common people and those who are downtrodden are the sufferers,” the bench said, adding that “take this very seriously”. The state’s counsel said he would file a detailed report with regard to these FIRs. The bench noted that allegations in the petition are with respect to large scale illegal liquor manufacturing and sale in Punjab. The apex court directed that a counter affidavit be filed before it giving details, including about the distilleries whose licences are reported to have been cancelled or penalties or duties that have been levied and particulars and allegations made in these FIRs. The court set December 5 as the next date for hearing.