Sas Nagar, Dec 30 (Agency) In a joint operation of Punjab Excise department and Mohali district police, an organized module involved in smuggling of Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) into Punjab was busted in district Mohali. Stating this in a communique on Wednesday, Punjab Joint Excise Commissioner Naresh Dubey said that in the wake of forthcoming vidhan sabha elections in state, Excise department is taking all measures to curb smuggling of ENA and illegal liquor into the Punjab state. An input was received that few persons are involved in smuggling ENA into Punjab and Chandigarh evading the Excise duties and Levies, which caused huge loss to state exchequer. He said that acting on the information, joint teams of Special Operations Group of Excise Department including Mohali Excise and District Police Mohali were formed. He said that these special teams were pressed on duty for round the clock nakabandi and patrolling in three districts of Punjab.
Dubey further said that on the intervening night of December 28/29 the teams of Mohali Excise deputed at Lalru near Punjab Haryana interstate border intercepted a tanker carrying 25000 litres ENA. The driver and his accomplice produced some documents in support of the consignment. Immediately the authorities which issued the Permit and Pass of consignment were contacted for verification of documents. It was found that documents were fake and were fabricated to hoodwink the authorities. The illegal consignment was meant to be supplied to a known bottling plant of Chandigarh whose liquor brands have been confiscated in heavy quantities in Punjab, he informed and said as per the statement of the driver, the ENA has been loaded from Chhatisgarh. Further investigation about the source is being carried out. He informed that with this consignment of 25000 litres of ENA, approximately 1,10,000 bottles of country liquor can be produced. An FIR under sections 61-1-14,78(2),420, 120B has been registered against the accused.