With Maharashtra witnessing its first multi-polar elections after three decades, parties and candidates appear to be bribing voters in a big way with booze. The state excise department has seized liquor and material worth Rs 7.86 crore ever since the code of conduct was implemented on September 12.
The haul is significantly higher when compared to the Rs7.66-crore seizure through 6,286 raids in 51 days, when poll codes were in force, during the Lok Sabha polls.
In 29 days, the excise officials have confiscated 20,060 bulk litres (BL) of Indian Made Foreign Liquor to the tune of Rs 99.27 lakh, and 12,877 BL of country liquor and a stash of 97,461 BL hooch worth Rs 25 lakh and Rs 53.90 lakh respectively.
The seizures, which have seen 5,741 raids and 3,036 arrests, have resulted in a stash of 3,446.42 BL of Beer (Rs 5.84 lakh), 3,361.18 BL spirit valued at 2.07 lakh and 21,219 BL toddy costing Rs 4.43 lakh being unearthed along 14.54 lakh BL of raw materials worth at Rs 3.14 crore. The total value of the seizures, including vehicles is Rs 7.86 crore.
"We acted in a big way in initial days, which led to the number of new cases going down. We have sealed all borders and are checking vehicles round-the-clock," said a senior excise official, adding that 79 check posts had been established across Maharashtra's borders with eight states and union territories.
"While cash seized by the police and I-T is returned in case it can be accounted for, in the case of liquor, the seizure and vehicles are confiscated and the people involved are arrested. This may have led to a paucity of transporters to ferry liquor," the officials said.
In Dhule, excise teams found liquor being brought in vehicles from Punjab, while vehicles carrying brew manufactured in Haryana and Goa were intercepted in Thane. "We have also seized liquor sent from Daman and Goa on two-wheelers and in cars ferrying families," the official said, adding that the elections in Haryana had led to a decline in the illicit transport of liquor from that state to Maharashtra.
The Election Commission of India had asked for CCTV cameras to be put up on the premises of manufacturers and wholesalers to keep a check on the movement of alcohol. State authorities are also collaborating with their counterparts in other states to curb liquor smuggling.
Liquor retailers who record daily sales of over 50% of their average are also being served notices and being asked to explain the spike, said officials.
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