Gang smuggling liquor impersonating as paramilitary officials busted by Punjab Police and Excise Department Punjab

PATIALA, June 1 : - Under the  able guidance of  Worthy D.G.P. Punjab Sh. V.K.Bhawra I.P.S. and Sh.K.A.P Sinha ACST and under supervision of Sh.Varun Roojam  Excise Commissioner,Punjab, Sh. Deepak Pareek   I.P.S. SSP Dist Patiala and Sh.Naresh Dubey Jt. Excise commissioner ,Punjab ,in  an joint operation of Special Operations Group of  Excise department, Punjab and District Police Patiala ,an organized module of liquor smugglers was busted. The gang was involved in smuggling of illegal liquor from neighboring states into Punjab impersonating as paramilitary officials.
Sh. Deepak Pareek   I.P.S. SSP Dist Patiala,  informed that Special Operation Group (SOG) of Excise department and Patiala Police has once again tightened the noose on persons involved in smuggling liquor in Punjab. A secret information was received that an organized gang is involved in smuggling liquor from Chandigarh into Punjab under guise as paramilitary officials. With the coordinated efforts of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Excise department and Anti-Narcotics Cell of Patiala Police intelligence inputs were gathered On 01/06/22 the team got  a tip that  the gang impersonating as paramilitary officials will be smuggling liquor from chandigarh into Punjab . This gang is involved in supplying the smuggled liquor to different cities of Punjab .  In order to catch the accused red handed, teams of special operations group of Excise and Anti-narcotics cell of Patiala  Police swung into action and special nakabandi was done. The teams got success when a truck no. UP32BG3835 was  intercepted on naka near P.S  Ganda kheri in Patiala District .The truck was modified to look like an official vehicle of I.T.B.P. The driver and co driver were wearing the uniform of I.T.B.P. officials .During investigation it was found that the accused had been using this modus operandi of impersonating as government officials and under that guise to smuggle liquor into Punjab using the I.T.B.P modified truck and wearing I.T.B.P. uniforms. Two accused  named : 1. Sarabjit singh S/O Bakshish singh R/O Village Behloli ,P.S. Panjokhra sahib ,Ambala and Surinder singh @ Sam S/O Sukhwant singh R/O Village Sain Majra P.S.Naraingarh ,Ambala were arrested from  the spot. The team( (Recovered 1. 400 cases of IMFL(FOR SALE IN CHANDIGARH ONLY) Brands – Bottomsup, Discount whisky , Jubilee ,Rajdhani  2. 4 set of I.T.B.P. uniforms 3. Tata Truck no. UP 32 BG 3835 Modified to look like I.T.B.P truck 4. Fake I.T.B.P. Identity cards 5. 2 Mobile phones) During investigation, the accused admitted that they have been smuggling liquor throughout Punjab and other states  using this modus operandi. An FIR No.43, dated 01-06-2022 under Section 61/1/14 and 78(2) of Punjab Excise Act and Sections 170,171,419,465,467,468,471,474 of IPC was got registered at Ganda Kheri  Police Station ,Patiala.   Sh. Deepak Pareek   I.P.S. SSP Distt Patiala reiterated that the Government has zero tolerance policy as far as smuggling of liquor or any illegal activity relating to Excise is concerned. Entire chain of forward and backward linkages leading to disclosure of the main suppliers and recipient of smuggled  liquor is being pursued expeditiously and nobody involved would be spared and action would be taken as per law.