As many as 13 persons including seven DHABA owners were arrested by Bargarh police on Wednesday for allegedly selling liquor illegally.
Police also seized large quantities of IMFL and outsill liquor from the DHABA. All those arrested have been forwarded to court.
DHABA owners are Bijay Bhoi, Gobinda Sahu, Tarjit Singh, Gouranga Patel, Sriram Suna, Purandar Yadav and Rakesh Behera. Among the others arrested are two IMFL shop owners Ghanshyam Karmi and Mohammad Sakil, oustill liquor shop owners Philips Nanda, two IMFL outlet managers Nandkishore Tiwari and Manoj Sahu and one country liquor vendor Lochan Meher. Additional SP, Parul Gupta, said the IMFL shop owners in nexus with the ‘dhaba’ owners were selling liquor in violation of Odisha Excise Rules. Informing that three IMFL outlets were closed after their involvement in the illegal trade was found, she said steps would be taken to get their licence cancelled.
She added that there have been reports of ‘dhaba’ owners adulterating the liquor to give customers extra kick. She said that the seized liquor would be sent for laboratory test to ascertain the fact and action would be taken accordingly.
