Liquor swindle: Govt orders a crackdown

The Haryana government on Tuesday took cognisance of an HT report on the rebottling and sale of fake premium alcohol in Gurugram and Faridabad, with deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala ordering that special teams be formed to crack down on the counterfeit liquor business in the state.

- Leena Dhankhar

HT on Tuesday reported on the booming racket where traders buy used, high-end liquor bottles from scrap dealers, fill them with cheap whisky, slap on new labels and caps, seal them and sell them to vendors, shops, and even bars.

Hours after the report was published, Chautala - who is also the state excise and taxation minister told HT that the state government will work to stamp down on the sale of fake liquor in the state.

He also said action will also be taken against liquor companies if such liquor is found in shops.

"It is also the responsibility of the brands to keep a check on their sales, and they should collect samples for testing. Brands are liable to check the dispatch of their consignment, hologram and batch number mentioned on the liquor. If there are irregularities even after that, then the concerned brand will face legal action," he said.

Gurugram deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav told HT that the state government's order will be implemented immediately. Meanwhile, the Gurugram and Faridabad excise departments on Tuesday swung into action and began checks at outlets and liquor shops.