Punjab has always been in the top charts for the drug and liquor smuggling cases. Recently, the state has witnessed a horrendous tragedy of spurious liquor which claimed 114 lives. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), that has begun investigations, will treat the Majha tragedy as part of the booze scam in Punjab. According to a top official, "The ED has started collecting information about the financial transactions by those named or booked in the case. The recoveries and assets of the key accused need to be thoroughly probed".
As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) turns the heat on the liquor mafia, politicians, and bureaucrats in Punjab in one of the biggest liquor scams in the country, the police, and the state excise department seem to be buying time in sharing evidence with the central probe agency.
The multi-crore scam, which smells of a big-time money laundering racket, is giving sleepless nights to several prominent politicians close to power.
Reportedly, these politicians belong to four districts of Punjab i.e., Ludhiana Rural, Mohali, Khanna, and Patiala.
The roots of liquor mafia are deep-seated in Punjab and they promoted illegal liquor bottling business amidst the coronavirus induced lockdown.
According to the top sources and initial findings of ED, illicit business came into being in 2018. Since then, the business doubled, a chain of people, including prominent politicians and bureaucrats joined it and started making money out of it.
The liquor is being sold at the higher rates to the people of other neighboring states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. They are charged on the name of imported hooch brands.
The initial investigation by ED officials suggests that the bootleggers may be making about Rs 1,000 crore per annum. “What is worth probing is that the same individuals are booked and arrested in separate cases. No more home-made liquor, they are now packaging India-Made Foreign Liquor and Punjab Medium Liquor illegally to rake in huge profits,” a source said.
It may be recalled that ED Deputy Director Niranjan Singh had written to the Excise Department on June 15, the Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) on June 6 and again on June 12, the Mohali SSP on June 17 and the Ludhiana (Rural) Police on June 18, seeking information on “FIRs, probe reports, property details of the accused and interrogation reports of those arrested”. It is learned that he is yet to get a response.
A senior officer said the ED was trying to ascertain the financial status of the accused. “We have gone through several FIRs. Despite the arrests, the recovery, in terms of money made by the accused, is almost negligible,” a top official said. “Till the time we nail the big fish that have minted money in this illegal liquor trade, such tragedies will continue to happen. Probe into finances is the key,” he said.
Also Read: Liquor Mafia: ED reveals more than 25 prominent politicians are involved in money laundering scam
When asked about not providing the information to the ED, an official on behalf of the Principal Secretary (Excise and Taxation) said, "We will respond as per rules."
ED Deputy Director, Niranjan Singh had already busted a few major drug rackets namely Bhola Drug Racket, Raja Kandola Drug Racket. Niranjan Singh is known as an upright officer who works diligently to safeguard the interests of the natives.