Delhi Govt seizes ₹50 Lakh worth of illicit liquor amid poll code enforcement

The Delhi excise department has seized nearly 20,000 bottles of illicit liquor valued at ₹50 lakh over the past fortnight since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Delhi Assembly elections came into effect on January 7. The total value of seizures, including 15,376 litres of liquor and 32 vehicles, stands at approximately ₹1.5 crore, officials revealed on Friday.

So far, 52 cases have been registered in connection with the confiscations. The illicit liquor seized by the excise department accounts for 25% of the total recovered, including seizures by Delhi Police. Intensive patrolling and interstate border checks, particularly with Haryana, have been prioritised to curb liquor smuggling, a senior excise official said.

In a major operation on Thursday night, the Excise Intelligence Bureau (EIB) intercepted two vehicles in Burari and Mahipalpur, recovering 5,000 bottles containing 3,600 litres of liquor worth ₹12 lakh. In Burari, a truck carrying 3,036 bottles of Haryana-marked liquor was seized after a 14-kilometre chase. Another mini-truck with 1,812 bottles was intercepted in Mahipalpur.

The department is also ensuring compliance with Election Commission directives, including intensified inspections of liquor warehouses and restrictions on coupon-based bookings at hotels, clubs, and bars. Both February 5 (voting day) and February 8 (counting day) have been declared "dry days" in Delhi.

The excise department's ongoing crackdown underscores its commitment to addressing the illicit liquor trade during the election season, despite limited staff and resources, the official added.