Kullu, September 3: The Excise and Taxation Department has seized 500 cartons of beer, comprising 7,200 bottles, allegedly being transported to Punjab for sale, from a truck near Jard on the Kullu-Manali four-lane highway.
The action was taken around 7.40 am on Thursday during a routine checking operation near the District Institute of Education and Training at Jard. The department team stopped a truck and found a large quantity of beer cartons inside.
According to the department, the bottles were marked “For Sale in Punjab”. The driver was asked to produce the required transport permit, pass and other valid documents, but failed to provide satisfactory documents.
The seized consignment included 294 cartons of Tuborg Strong (650 ml), 100 cartons of Budweiser Magnum (500 ml) and 106 cartons of Kingfisher Strong (650 ml). In all, the consignment contained 4,800 bottles of 650 ml and 2,400 bottles of 500 ml, totalling 7,200 bottles.
The department seized the vehicle and the beer and subsequently lodged an FIR at Bhuntar police station under Section 39(1) of the Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011.
The operation was conducted by a team comprising Suresh Sharma, Assistant State Tax and Excise Officer, Kullu; Gangaram, Assistant State Tax and Excise Officer, Banjar Circle; Excise Police Constable Ashok Kumar; and driver Suresh Kumar.
The Deputy Commissioner, State Tax and Excise, Kullu, said the department’s enforcement drive against illegal manufacture, storage, transportation and sale of liquor would continue. He said strict action would be taken against those involved in illegal liquor trade and revenue evasion.
