The Excise Department in West Bengal’s Siliguri seized a significant amount of raw materials and equipment used in making counterfeit liquor. The raid, based on a tip-off, uncovered about 1,560 liters of OP spirit, a crucial ingredient in illicit liquor production. Officials suspect a scheme to flood the market with fake alcohol before the upcoming Assembly elections to sway voters.
Materials worth Rs 62.40 lakh were confiscated, including counterfeit labels of known liquor brands, fake holograms, bottle caps, and empty plastic bottles. The Election Commission was informed of this development, leading to increased vigilance and preventive actions against such illegal activities. No genuine market liquor was found, with all seized items intended for producing spurious alcohol.
The recovered items, such as counterfeit labels, holograms, and bottle caps, were to be used to pass off the spurious liquor as genuine branded alcohol. The Excise Department, acting on specific intelligence, conducted the raid, destroying the illicit materials. Preliminary investigations indicate that the production of counterfeit liquor aimed to influence voters and posed a severe public health threat.
The Election Commission emphasized the health risks associated with consuming illicit liquor and reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, and peaceful elections in West Bengal. Polling for the state’s 294 assembly constituencies is scheduled in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting set for May 4. Observers have been deployed across all constituencies to ensure the electoral process’s integrity.
