Action Against Those Selling Liquor at Higher Rates, Excise Department Suspends Two Officers
Action Against Those Selling Liquor at Higher Rates
Excise Department Suspends Two Officers
Disclosure of selling liquor worth Rs 190 for Rs 200 in Mahasamund
Recovery of 4409 empty bottles and 105 stickers-holograms in Kanker
Raipur, September 10, 2026/The Excise Department has taken strict action against the sale of liquor at prices higher than the prescribed rates and illegal liquor production in the state. Following the confirmation of selling liquor at higher than the prescribed rate at the composite liquor shop Tumha Dabri (Bemcha) in Mahasamund district during the investigation by the state-level flying squad, Excise Sub-Inspector Mr. Nitesh Singh Bais has been immediately suspended. Meanwhile, action has also been taken to suspend Excise Sub-Inspector Mrs. Ranu Markam and Assistant Excise Officer Mr. Madhukar Shyam Harit, In-charge of the District Excise Officer's office, in connection with the major recovery of materials related to illegal liquor production in the Bhanupratappur area of Kanker district.
Liquor worth Rs 190 sold for Rs 200
The state-level flying squad team conducted a surprise inspection of the composite liquor shop Tumha Dabri (Bemcha) in Mahasamund district on September 07, 2026. During the verification conducted through a decoy customer, it was found that Salesman No. 01, Mr. Dineshwar Dhruv, working at the shop, sold one unit of Bagpiper Whiskey, a foreign liquor, for Rs 200 instead of the government-prescribed selling price of Rs 190. Subsequently, during a re-purchase test, Salesman No. 02, Mr. Gulab Dahariya, also sold the same liquor for Rs 200 instead of Rs 190. Thus, for the purchase of 02 units, Rs 400 were collected instead of the prescribed Rs 380, meaning a total of Rs 20 was overcharged by both salesmen. A case has been registered against both salesmen under Section 39 (c) of the Chhattisgarh Excise Act.
Nitesh Singh Bais Suspended for Irregularities in Charge Area
The department considered this a serious matter of lack of effective monitoring and lax control in the concerned charge area. Following this, Mr. Nitesh Singh Bais, Excise Sub-Inspector, Liquor Shop In-charge, and Circle In-charge Mahasamund, has been immediately suspended under Rule 9 (1) of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1966.
During the suspension period, his headquarters will be the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Divisional Flying Squad Durg Division, Durg (Chhattisgarh), and he will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules.
Major Preparation for Illegal Liquor Production Revealed in Kanker
Meanwhile, in a surprise raid by the police in a vacant/closed rented house in Basant Nagar village (Narayanpur) of Bhanupratappur police station area in the district of North Bastar Kanker, a large quantity of material related to illegal liquor production was recovered. During the action, 4409 empty liquor bottles/pouches, 105 stickers and holograms, and 3380 caps along with other materials were seized.
The seized material includes 30 pouches of Jammu Special Whiskey, a total of 5.400 liters, valued at Rs 3600. In addition, the value of stickers and holograms of various brands is stated to be Rs 59,645. The total number of empty bottles/pouches is 4409, valued at Rs 22,045. Furthermore, a total of 3380 caps of various types were also recovered.
Ranu Markam and Madhukar Shyam Harit Also Face Action
This case falls under the charge area of Mrs. Ranu Markam, Excise Sub-Inspector, Liquor Shop In-charge, and Circle In-charge Bhanupratappur. Considering the grave irregularities found in her area as indicative of gross negligence in duty, indifference, and lax control, she has been immediately suspended under Rule 9 (1) of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1966. During the suspension period, her headquarters will be the office of the District Excise Officer, Kanker, and she will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules.
In the same case, action has also been taken to suspend Mr. Madhukar Shyam Harit, Assistant District Excise Officer and In-charge of the District Excise Officer's office, District North Bastar Kanker, based on prima facie grave negligence, indifference to duty, and lack of effective supervision and continuous monitoring. His suspension headquarters has been fixed at the office of the Excise Commissioner, Chhattisgarh, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, and he will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules.
Response Sought from Other Officers
In the same case of selling at higher rates in Mahasamund, the department has also fixed the accountability of the concerned officers. Mr. Deepak Thakur, Assistant District Excise Officer, and Mr. Ajay Kumar Pandey, Assistant District Excise Officer, have been issued show-cause notices and directed to submit a satisfactory reply within 07 days. They have been warned of ex-parte action as per rules if a reply is not received within the stipulated period.
Monitoring of Liquor Shops to be Strengthened
It is clear from this action by the department that the recovery of more than the prescribed selling price of liquor, illegal liquor production, and negligence in monitoring will not be tolerated at any level in the state. Emphasis is being placed on making the inspection and monitoring of liquor shops more effective through the actions of the state-level flying squad and field staff.