Days after the excise division seized almost 42,000 bottles of international liquor allegedly smuggled into India, officers have begun auditing licensed liquor vends throughout Gurugram to uncover the complete community behind the operation and decide how duty-evaded alcohol entered the retail market, officers stated.
The transfer follows a significant raid at a Gurugram liquor store, “The Theka,” the place enforcement groups seized 3,921 cartons and 176 bottles of imported liquor after receiving a tip-off from a liquor dealer, police stated. They added that the a lot of the bottles lacked necessary holograms and track-and-trace strips, indicating that customs and excise duties had been bypassed. The seized inventory included premium scotch and luxurious vodka manufacturers and is estimated to be price round ₹10 crore within the black market, officers stated.
PR had earlier reported that Gurugram’s liquor market had been underneath scrutiny for months over allegations that untaxed international liquor was flooding town and being bought at steeply discounted costs. Officers stated the dimensions of the most recent seizure confirms that the issue extends past retail vends and has penetrated defence golf equipment, the place canteen liquor procured by the Canteen Shops Division is allegedly being consumed with out a legitimate licence.
Amit Bhatia, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, stated the unlawful consignment was saved by the store proprietor and his associates. “The international/imported liquor seized from the store was saved there by Goyal and his aides,” Bhatia stated.
The investigation started with the arrest of the store’s supervisor, Ajay Kumar (26), who allegedly supervised the stocking of smuggled liquor, together with greater than 80 high-end manufacturers comparable to Chivas, Glenmorangie, Absolut Vodka and Johnny Walker Black Label, police stated. On Friday, Ankush Goyal, who owns a 25% stake within the retailer, was arrested in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, they added.
Investigators suspect the syndicate used greater than 50 faux customs bond corporations that existed solely “on paper” to illegally transfer imported liquor into the native retail market. Underneath the authorized route, imported liquor should first cross by government-regulated customs warehouses earlier than reaching licensed personal warehouses. On this case, nevertheless, bottles had been allegedly diverted on to retail vends, permitting these concerned to evade duties and earn unusually excessive revenue margins.
Advocate Rajeev Yadav, who has repeatedly flagged alleged irregularities in Gurugram’s liquor commerce, stated smuggling networks thrive by exploiting systemic gaps. “There’s a enormous distinction in worth between smuggled and imported liquor. That worth hole fuels the unlawful market,” he stated.
Trade insiders additionally acknowledged that imported liquor dominates shelf area in Gurugram, with Indian Made Overseas Liquor’s market share having dropped to round 30%.
Following the seizure, authorities have began auditing liquor licences, warehouse statements, and real-time inventory entries throughout metropolis vends. Officers stated attainable inner collusion throughout audits and in provide chain monitoring can also be underneath examination.
A senior excise officer stated the raid underscored the necessity for stronger compliance mechanisms. “This has introduced the highlight on duty-evaded liquor circulating available in the market. Extra vends and institutions can be inspected because the investigation progresses,” the officer stated, asking to not be named.
