PANAJI
Days after Goa Excise officials uncovered a major tax evasion racket involving a liquor distribution company from Haryana, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday alleged that liquor is being smuggled between Goa and Haryana with the help of local Excise Department officials.
The party has asked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to carry out a detailed investigation.
“Liquor is being smuggled out of Goa and clandestinely imported from Haryana, causing loss of revenue to the state exchequer,” AAP’s Goa unit president Amit Palekar said.
Palekar alleged that the Goa Excise Department is involved in the scam and urged CM Sawant, who also heads the Excise Department, to take immediate action.
He claimed that one or two trucks carrying illegal liquor are caught at the borders of Maharashtra or Karnataka almost every day, showing that they manage to leave Goa without proper checks.
Last Wednesday, a truck registered in Haryana was stopped at the Patradevi checkpost. It was carrying high-end liquor brands like Chivas Regal, Absolut Vodka, Johnnie Walker and Black Label. The consignment was sent illegally, avoiding over Rs 1 crore in duties.
