Excise dept raids eight spots in a day amid liquor ban in Jawali

The issue of illegal liquor sales has resurfaced in Jawali taluka, known for its liquor prohibition drive in the state. The State Excise Department carried out surprise raids in different villages of the taluka on September 21 and registered cases against eight suspects. Country-made and foreign liquor and beer worth a total of Rs 29,500 were seized in the action.

Despite prohibition being in force across Jawali taluka, complaints of clandestine liquor sales in some areas had been coming in continuously. Questions are being raised again over enforcement of the ban following this action. Responsibility for stopping illegal liquor sales rests with both the police and the Excise Department, and this has raised questions about coordination between the two departments.

A few years ago, women had launched a major movement to make Jawali taluka liquor-free. Because of this, prohibition here became not just a government decision but an issue tied to a social movement. However, complaints of clandestine liquor sales in the taluka have kept surfacing repeatedly over the past few years.

In this Excise Department action, liquor was seized in the Bibhavi, Medha, Somardi, Karhar, Sonagaon and Anewadi areas. In Bibhavi, country liquor and beer worth Rs 5,480 was seized from Akash Aglave. In Medha, country liquor worth Rs 4,200 was seized from Mayuresh Gore and worth Rs 2,800 from Ganesh Vishnu Dhanawade. In Somardi, liquor worth Rs 2,400 was seized from Niranjan Sahebrao Paramane. In Karhar, country and foreign liquor worth Rs 5,340 was seized from Dipali Ramesh Gole and country liquor worth Rs 3,360 from Sambhaji Ramchandra Gole. In Sonagaon, country liquor worth Rs 2,080 was seized from Deepak Sanjay Shevate, and in Anewadi, country liquor worth Rs 3,840 was seized from Anil Mugutrao Farande. In all, goods worth Rs 29,500 were seized.

It is said that Excise Commissioner Rajesh Deshmukh paid special attention to illegal liquor sales in Jawali taluka, after which the department's action picked up pace. Earlier, there had been talk of the police and the Excise Department passing responsibility back and forth over action against illegal liquor sales. But now, by carrying out action at eight places in a single day, the Excise Department has brought the issue of enforcing prohibition back into discussion.

The police administration had earlier indicated that beat officers in areas where illegal trade is found would also face action. This raises the question of whether Superintendent of Police Pingale will take action against the beat officers in the areas where the Excise Department acted against illegal liquor sales. The people of Jawali are now watching to see what stance the police administration takes on this matter.