The Excise and Prohibition Department is preparing to implement strict monitoring measures for every bottle of liquor sold in the state. The initiative aims to prevent illegal and counterfeit alcohol from reaching consumers and to plug revenue leakages.

Study Tour To Uttar Pradesh And West Bengal

Acting on the instructions of Excise and Prohibition Minister Yogendra Prasad, a three-member team of senior departmental officials recently toured Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Both states successfully employ a "track and trace" system to monitor liquor sales.

The team has returned with detailed information regarding the implementation of this system and is currently preparing its findings. The report is expected to be submitted to the Minister by next week.

How The System Works

The focus of the new initiative is a QR code-based mechanism.

Verification: Scanning the QR code on a bottle will provide immediate proof of whether the product is genuine or counterfeit.

Supply Chain Visibility: The system reveals the entire history of the bottle, including which warehouse it was dispatched from, the date of dispatch, and the district to which it was supplied.

Minister Yogendra Prasad stated that the primary objective is to eliminate the supply of illegal liquor, ensuring that consumers receive only genuine, high-quality products. He noted that eliminating fraudulent activities would naturally lead to an increase in state revenue.

Departmental Revenue Update

Rs 2,500 Crore Collected by October The Excise and Prohibition Department reported a revenue collection of Rs 2,500 crore by October of the current financial year.

Target: The total revenue target for this fiscal year is Rs 3,960 crore.

Outlook: With five months remaining, Minister Prasad expressed confidence that the target will be achieved soon.

Market Status: The supply of branded liquor to shops across the state is currently stable, which has contributed to increased sales.

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Liquor Scam Case Update

No Relief for Businessman Naveen Kedia In a significant development regarding the ongoing liquor scam case, the court has denied relief to accused businessman Naveen Kedia.

Bail Rejected: The court of ACB Special Judge Onkar Nath Chaudhary rejected Kedia’s anticipatory bail application.

Timeline: Kedia filed for anticipatory relief on October 30. The court heard the application and reserved its order on November 21 before delivering the rejection.

Investigation: The inquiry has revealed Kedia's involvement in the scam, leading to the dismissal of his plea.

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