In-charge Officers of Three Excise Circles Suspended
Show Cause Notices Issued to 6 Senior Officers
Action Taken Against Officers Who Failed to Curb Illegal Liquor in Balodabazar, Mahasamund, and Rajnandgaon Districts
Raipur, May 6, 2025/ In compliance with the clear and strict instructions of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, the Excise Department has initiated strict action against officers who have been negligent and apathetic in curbing the transportation, storage, and trade of illegal liquor. Following surprise inspections by the state-level flying squad, cases of illegal liquor were detected in Balodabazar, Mahasamund, and Rajnandgaon districts, leading to the suspension of three circle officers and the issuance of show cause notices to 6 senior officers of the Excise Department, demanding their explanations.
According to information received from the Excise Commissioner, Smt. Motin Banjare, in-charge of the circle in Balodabazar district, has been suspended for negligence and apathy in curbing the illegal liquor trade. Additionally, District Excise Officer Shri Gajendra Singh and Assistant Excise Officer and Mandal In-charge Shri Jalesh Singh have been issued show cause notices. During a raid conducted by the state-level flying squad in April in Gram Bansankara in Balodabazar district, 104 boxes of foreign liquor from Madhya Pradesh were seized. Considering the officers prima facie guilty in this matter, this action has been taken.
Similarly, in the case of the seizure of 14 boxes of country liquor, 8 boxes of Goa liquor, 14 boxes of beer from Odisha state, and 13 pieces of foreign liquor in Bagbahra, Mahasamund district on May 3, 2025, Mukesh Kumar Verma, in-charge of Bagbahra circle, has been suspended. District Excise Officer Shri Nidhish Koshthi and Mandal In-charge Shri Uttam Buddh Bharadwaj have been issued show cause notices there.
In Rajnandgaon district, during a raid conducted by the police at a farmhouse on Karwari Latmarra Marg in Gram Dongargarh, 432 boxes of various brands of foreign liquor and a large quantity of empty bottles, caps, labels, and 4,000 holograms were seized. Considering the seriousness of the matter, Anil Kumar Singh, in-charge of Dongargarh circle, has been suspended, while the then Assistant Excise Commissioner of Rajnandgaon, Shri Yadunandan Rathore, and Mandal In-charge Shri Sandeep Sahare have been issued show cause notices, demanding explanations.
It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai had instructed departmental officers to strictly curb the illegal transportation, storage, and trade of liquor in the state. The Chief Minister had clearly stated that excise officers should strictly prohibit this in their respective areas and take effective action against those involved. No negligence in this matter would be tolerated. The Chief Minister had also said that if cases of illegal liquor are detected by the state-level flying squad in the districts, responsibility would be fixed and action would be taken against the concerned officers. The suspension of the in-charge officers of the three circles and the issuance of notices to 6 senior officers of the department are a result of this.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the illegal liquor trade will not be allowed to flourish in the state at any cost, and a ‘zero tolerance’ policy will be adopted in this direction. Excise Secretary Shri Mukesh Bansal and Excise Commissioner Shri Shyam Dhawde have directed all district and mandal officers to ensure immediate and strict action on any information regarding the manufacture, transportation, and sale of illegal liquor. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned officers for any negligence in this regard.