Pune: Excise Department Seizes Rs 5.55 Crore Worth of Vehicles and Liquor Ahead of Polls
Pune, 15th November 2024: With the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections approaching, the Maharashtra State Excise Department’s Pune Division has ramped up enforcement activities. Since 1st October, 1,267 cases have been registered, leading to the arrest of 1,179 individuals. Seized items include liquor, other contraband, and 182 vehicles worth ₹5.55 crore. Bonds of good behaviour have been filed against notorious repeat offenders, resulting in fines totalling ₹11.80 lakh.
In three notable cases, illegal liquor transportation from Goa—where it is cheaper but banned in Maharashtra—was intercepted. Authorities seized two vehicles and liquor valued at ₹41.77 lakh. Additionally, action has been taken against 101 liquor license holders for breaching Maharashtra State Excise Department regulations.
The crackdown aims to curb the use of liquor to influence voters during elections. To strengthen monitoring, the Excise Department has set up 18 temporary checkposts across Pune, where suspicious vehicles are thoroughly inspected. Pune District Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase has issued strict directives to prevent election-related misconduct involving liquor and instructed officials to take stringent action against violations.
Six-Day Dry Period Announced in Pune
In all 21 constituencies of Pune district, a six-day dry period has been declared by the Pune District Collector in coordination with the Maharashtra State Excise Department. The dry period begins at 6 PM on 18th November, coinciding with the start of the election silence period, and will continue until the end of 23rd November, the day of vote counting for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.
