3 officers suspended, 6 served notices in crackdown against illegal liquor trade

Raipur: In a major crackdown against the illegal liquor trade in Chhattisgarh, the state govt has taken disciplinary action against excise department officials found negligent in curbing the illegal transport, storage, and sale of alcohol. Three circle in-charges have been suspended, and show-cause notices have been issued to six senior officers, an official confirmed on Tuesday.

The action follows surprise inspections by the state-level flying squad, which uncovered significant quantities of illegal liquor in Balodabazar, Mahasamund, and Rajnandgaon districts.

In Balodabazar, 104 cartons of foreign liquor originating from Madhya Pradesh were seized last month during a raid in Banasankara village. Following the operation, Motin Banjare, circle in-charge, was suspended. District Excise Officer Gajendra Singh and Assistant Excise Officer-cum-Divisional in-charge Jalesh Singh were issued show-cause notices for their failure to curb such activities.

A similar raid on May 3 in Bagbahara, Mahasamund district, led to the confiscation of 14 cartons of country liquor, 14 boxes of beer from Odisha, and 13 bottles of foreign liquor. Bagbahara Circle In-Charge Mukesh Kumar Verma was suspended in response. District Excise Officer Nidhish Koshti and Divisional In-Charge Uttam Buddha Bhardwaj have been asked to explain their lapses.

The largest haul was reported in Rajnandgaon district, where a raid at a farmhouse along Karwari Latmarra Road in the Dongargarh Excise Circle resulted in the seizure of 432 cartons of foreign liquor from various brands. Authorities also recovered large quantities of empty bottles, caps, fake labels, and 4,000 counterfeit holograms. Dongargarh Circle In-Charge Anil Kumar Singh has been suspended, while then-Assistant Excise Commissioner Yadunanand Rathore and Divisional In-Charge Sandeep Sahare were issued show-cause notices.

CM Vishnu Deo Sai had earlier instructed excise officials to enforce strict controls on the illegal liquor trade. He warned that any negligence would result in firm action.

"The recent suspensions and notices reflect our zero-tolerance policy toward those abetting or ignoring illegal liquor activities," a senior official said. "This is only the beginning. The flying squad will continue unannounced inspections across the state."

CM Sai had also stated that responsibility would be fixed immediately in any district where illegal liquor is found and promised that the crackdown would intensify in the coming weeks.

Raipur: In a major crackdown against the illegal liquor trade in Chhattisgarh, the state govt has taken disciplinary action against excise department officials found negligent in curbing the illegal transport, storage, and sale of alcohol. Three circle in-charges have been suspended, and show-cause notices have been issued to six senior officers, an official confirmed on Tuesday.

The action follows surprise inspections by the state-level flying squad, which uncovered significant quantities of illegal liquor in Balodabazar, Mahasamund, and Rajnandgaon districts.

In Balodabazar, 104 cartons of foreign liquor originating from Madhya Pradesh were seized last month during a raid in Banasankara village. Following the operation, Motin Banjare, circle in-charge, was suspended. District Excise Officer Gajendra Singh and Assistant Excise Officer-cum-Divisional in-charge Jalesh Singh were issued show-cause notices for their failure to curb such activities.

A similar raid on May 3 in Bagbahara, Mahasamund district, led to the confiscation of 14 cartons of country liquor, 14 boxes of beer from Odisha, and 13 bottles of foreign liquor. Bagbahara Circle In-Charge Mukesh Kumar Verma was suspended in response. District Excise Officer Nidhish Koshti and Divisional In-Charge Uttam Buddha Bhardwaj have been asked to explain their lapses.

The largest haul was reported in Rajnandgaon district, where a raid at a farmhouse along Karwari Latmarra Road in the Dongargarh Excise Circle resulted in the seizure of 432 cartons of foreign liquor from various brands. Authorities also recovered large quantities of empty bottles, caps, fake labels, and 4,000 counterfeit holograms. Dongargarh Circle In-Charge Anil Kumar Singh has been suspended, while then-Assistant Excise Commissioner Yadunanand Rathore and Divisional In-Charge Sandeep Sahare were issued show-cause notices.

CM Vishnu Deo Sai had earlier instructed excise officials to enforce strict controls on the illegal liquor trade. He warned that any negligence would result in firm action.

"The recent suspensions and notices reflect our zero-tolerance policy toward those abetting or ignoring illegal liquor activities," a senior official said. "This is only the beginning. The flying squad will continue unannounced inspections across the state."

CM Sai had also stated that responsibility would be fixed immediately in any district where illegal liquor is found and promised that the crackdown would intensify in the coming weeks.