Absconding liquor smuggler held

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 16

A team of the CIA staff-1 of the police today arrested a liquor smuggler who was at large for the past three months. The suspect, identified as Arwinder Singh, was involved in several illicit liquor businesses and had stored around 215 bottles of countrymade liquors at his godown near JK Dhaba in Succhi village. Information about the illegal trade came to the fore after a joint raid by the Rama Mandi police and the Excise Department three months ago.

During raid, the police found that liquor cartons were stored in large quantities at his godown. Two of his accomplices managing the godown tried to run after seeing the police but were held after a chase. However, Arwinder managed to escape.

The illicit foreign brand liquor supplied from Chandigarh were recovered from their possession, which the suspects used to sell illegally in the city.

While his accomplices, identified as Rakesh Kalia and Pawan Kumar, both residents of Aman Nagar, were arrested during the raid, Arwinder was absconding for the past three months. A case under Sections 61-1- 14 of the Excise Act and Section 420 of the IPC had been registered against him at the Rama Mandi police station on October 20 last year.

ADCP (investigation) Gurmeet Singh while addressing mediapersons said today that after a continuous chase of over three months, the police finally nabbed the accused. After receiving a tip-off, the CIA staff-1 arrested Arvinder from Himachal Pradesh.

The suspect was reportedly booked in several liquor and drug trade cases.