CHANDIGARH, May 30: Days after Punjab raised alarm over a surge in liquor smuggling from Chandigarh, the Union Territory’s excise and taxation department has issued a detailed response, asserting that “all necessary measures” are being implemented to curb the illegal trade.
The UT department’s reply follows a 13-page letter from Punjab’s excise and taxation commissioner Jitendra Jorwal to Ajay Chagti, secretary (excise and taxation), UT. In the letter, Jorwal had flagged 35 FIRs registered in various Punjab districts since the beginning of the 2025–26 financial year — all involving liquor allegedly smuggled from Chandigarh.
In its written response, the Chandigarh excise department said it has stepped up enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, and to disrupt illicit cross-border movement of alcohol.
“Regular inspections and targeted drives are underway to uphold transparency in the sale and distribution of liquor,” the department stated, adding that it had acted multiple times on intelligence shared by Punjab. In such cases, follow-up action was taken to trace the origin and destination of the seized consignments.
The UT department said that it has issued repeated letters and reminders seeking full cooperation from Punjab. “We are hopeful that with the necessary details being provided in the required format, the individuals responsible will be traced and prosecuted,” the response said.
To strengthen oversight, the department noted that it has opened lines of communication with neighbouring states to enable faster information exchange. Whenever liquor meant for sale in Chandigarh is found elsewhere, immediate proceedings under the Punjab Excise Act are initiated, officials said.
The department added that enforcement has also targeted bottling plants and suppliers whose liquor, though legally produced for Chandigarh markets, has been confiscated in Punjab.
Between April and the end of May this fiscal, 48 inspections were carried out, leading to the seizure of 16,429 liquor bottles. Legal action under relevant excise laws is ongoing, the department confirmed.
“These measures underscore our commitment to transparency, accountability and discipline in Chandigarh’s licensed liquor trade,” the department noted.
To further tighten control, a track-and-trace system has been put in place to monitor liquor production and distribution in real time. Violators of the system will face strict action, the reply warned.
The department also mentioned that it is back-tracing consignments found outside Chandigarh to their source — whether retail vends or bottling units — and has been conducting consistent checks at all excise-linked facilities.
