Excise Department Slaps Penalty Of ₹20.82 Lakh On Eight Shops; Liquor Sold At Price Above MRP And Below MSP

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The excise department imposed a penalty of Rs 20.82 lakh on eight liquor shops for selling liquor of different brands at a price above the MRP (maximum retail price) or below MSP (minimum selling price) in the district, an official said on Friday.

The officials warned that the liquor shops could be sealed if the penalty was not deposited within seven days.

Following complaints of liquor being sold at a price above MRP and below MSP, the excise department had taken action against 18 shops of the district a few days ago, on the instructions of assistant excise commissioner Abhishek Tiwari, and registered cases against the shop contractors.

 During investigation, the officials found that the liquor was being sold at a price higher than the MRP or lower than the MSP at 18 liquor shops in urban and rural areas. After issuing notices to the liquor shop contractors, the cases were presented before collector Asheesh Singh for further action.

Following the order issued by the district collector, a penalty of Rs 20.82 lakh was imposed on eight shops and the entry updated on the e-excise portal by the officials. The action against the remaining shops would be taken soon.

The excise officials said that every liquor shop in the district had a rate list and QR code pasted outside for the convenience of the customers. The QR code could be scanned to know the maximum and minimum selling price of liquor of different brands and labels.

Liquor shops which were slapped with penalty

According to an excise department officer, a penalty of Rs 3.20 lakh was imposed on composite liquor shop Palasia No. 2. Other shops slapped with penalty include Lasudia Godown Number 2 (Rs 6,42,696), Bengali Square Number 1 (Rs 7,23,943), shop in Girota village ( Rs 58951), Machhi Bazar shop (Rs 1,08,035), shop in Borsi village (Rs 61929) and shop in Todi village (Rs 39553). A total of Rs 20.82 lakh penalty was imposed and the licensees instructed to deposit it within seven days.