Dry Day: Liquor Sale to Remain Suspended in Pune District Ahead of Polling
Indapur: The state excise department has registered 1,267 cases and arrested 1,179 people in Pune district since October 1, 2024, ahead of the assembly elections. In this operation, 982 vehicles and valuables worth Rs 5.55 crore have been seized.
According to Charan Singh Rajput, superintendent of the state excise department, the counting day will be a dry day (liquor sale banned) from Monday evening to Wednesday (20th) and Saturday (23rd) in view of the voting process.
Ahead of the elections in the district, state excise commissioner Vijay Suryavanshi, under the guidance and instructions of Suhas Divase, District Collector of Pune district and District Election Officer; and Joint Commissioner of State Excise Enforcement and Vigilance Prasad Surve and Divisional Commissioner State Excise Sagar Dhomkar, various teams have been formed ahead of the Assembly elections from October 1, 2024.
These teams are taking action against all hand kiln manufacturing, transportation, sale, as well as dhabas and illegal toddy trade in the district.
A special inspection drive is being conducted to take strict action against the concerned as per the provisions of the rules if illegal activities are found at the place of license after frequent thorough inspection of the license operating in the jurisdiction of the district.
A total of 109 licences have been registered against departmental discrepancies for violating the directions of the Election Commission of India and strict action is being taken against them under the orders of the District Collector.
A dry day has been declared in the district from 6 pm on November 18, 2024 till the completion of the voting process on November 20, 2024 and till the official results of all assembly constituencies are declared on November 23, 2024, the day of counting. Liquor licenses in the district will remain closed during this period.
The state excise department has appealed to anyone with information regarding the production, sale, transportation or distribution of illicit liquor, to contact toll free number 180023399999 and state excise, Pune division superintendent's office on 020-26127321.
18 check posts set up
A total of 18 temporary check posts are being set up in the district to check the movement of illegal liquor. Care is being taken to ensure that illegal liquor is not transported to lure voters, licences to sell liquor will be turned on and off within the stipulated time and liquor is not sold to minor customers.
