Jalandhar: The Excise Department has taken strict action against liquor traders in Punjab, ordering the sealing of dozens of contracts and suspension of bar licenses for violating rules.
According to officials, 23 contracts of the Rama Mandi group in Jalandhar will be closed on September 24 and 25, while 26 contracts of the Haryana group in Hoshiarpur will be sealed between September 24 and 26.
The department said the Rama Mandi group had sold 27 cartons of liquor in Amritsar on September 16 in violation of rules. Similarly, the Haryana group sold 81 cartons of liquor in Pathankot on September 10.
Following the inquiry, the Excise Department ordered the closure of the contracts. In addition, the license of four bars in Amritsar has been suspended for a month.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner of Excise had fined the Sehgal group ₹5 lakh for smuggling liquor and ordered the closure of all its contracts for a day. Officials said the purpose of these actions is to ensure strict compliance with excise rules.
