GNS JAMMU, Dec : Rules and guidelines of the Excise Department were being violated with impunity by State Times Editor Raj Daluja alias Raji, who was running liquor mafia in the State on his own name and the names of his family members, relatives etc causing losses worth several crores to the State exchequer.
Though Raji, who had been described as a criminal having involvement in a murder and some other cases like impersonation and in possession of fake state subjects (by two senior police officers), has the habit of violating rules and laws by maneuvering officials at lower levels and using blackmailing tactics against those, who didn’t succumb to his pressure, he has been found to be running at least 14 wine shops besides Bars, depots and factories on his own name and the names of his different relatives, which was quite contrary to existing rules and guidelines of the Excise Department.
According to official sources, either a wine shop, Bar or distillery license can be issued on the name of one person.
“A person having a wine shop can’t be issued Bar or distillery or any license of manufacturing liquor. This practice was introduced in the Excise Department a long back and continued to exist even today’’, sources said.
This was first pointed out by senior IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Samuel Verghese during his posting as Excise Commissioner. The Government had agreed to the suggestion of Mr Verghese and accordingly made it a law. Rules to this effect were issued vide No. 19/Liquor License/Sale Rule of Act 2005.
However, Daluja was running at least 14 wine shops, two liquor depots with distribution of some prominent brands and a bottling company on different names of his family members and relatives including Devinder Daluja (brother), Ram Pyari (mother), Suman Daluja (wife), Neelam Daluja (sister-in-law), Sahil Gupta (sister-in-law’s son) and some other relatives.
“This tactic was adopted by Raj Daluja to control the trade and run liquor mafia in Jammu with the help of some officials of the Excise Department’’, sources said, adding that all 14 shops, Bars, depots and a bottling factory were being run by Raj Daluja or Devinder Daluja but they had procured the licenses on different names of the members of their families and relatives to run the business.
However, according to sources, Daluja continued to deposit license fee for renewal of off-licenses every year for wine shops, file Income Tax returns, maintain book entries and gained cash control of the shops being run on the name of his family members and relatives to keep his complete control over them.
This illegal practice was being run by Daluja right under the noose of the Excise Department. However, since the Excise officials at the lower level were in-league with Raji for a variety of reasons, he continued to run liquor mafia without any check.
The Excise Department officials as well as other concerned officers were well aware of the fact that all the shops, Bars, depots and a bottling plant, which existed on the benami names were being controlled by Raji but were hesitant to take action against him as some of them have been won over by money powers and others by blackmailing tactics, for which Raj Daluja is known.
Sources said Raji had used several tactics to blackmail the officers of Excise and other Departments, who refused to succumb to his money power and other pressurizing techniques. A former official of the Excise Department, posted at his depot, was threatened that nude photographs of his family members will be circulated if he didn’t allow smuggling of liquor boxes out of the depot without paying any excise duty or Sales Tax.
“The case of former Excise official is not an isolated one. Raji is known for adopting such tactics against his rivals and officials, who refused to oblige him’’, they said, adding he adopted similar techniques to run the liquor mafia and earn money by hook or by crook.
According to sources, Raji had fabricated a fleet of tankers through which he was smuggling spirit from Madhya Pradesh. A body had been fabricated within the body of the tankers to bring double the capacity of spirit but show only one part of it at Lakhanpur to evade excise and other duties besides the Sales Tax.
Through this practice, Raji has caused losses to the State exchequer worth crores of rupees, they said, adding that this tactic of Daluja was also known to some officials within the Excise Department but they remained mum either under the influence of money or under pressure.
No permit is required for purchase of spirit from Madhya Pradesh. However, there had been several restrictions on the sale of spirit in Punjab. That is why he was purchasing spirit from Madhya Pradesh without vouchers.
Meanwhile, a large number of members of Amar Singh Club have approached the Excelsior and wanted to know that how a person, who had committed a murder and spent over three years in jail and was also involved in a case of impersonation, has been nominated as member of the Executive body of the Club by the Government.
Though Raji, who had been described as a criminal having involvement in a murder and some other cases like impersonation and in possession of fake state subjects (by two senior police officers), has the habit of violating rules and laws by maneuvering officials at lower levels and using blackmailing tactics against those, who didn’t succumb to his pressure, he has been found to be running at least 14 wine shops besides Bars, depots and factories on his own name and the names of his different relatives, which was quite contrary to existing rules and guidelines of the Excise Department.
According to official sources, either a wine shop, Bar or distillery license can be issued on the name of one person.
“A person having a wine shop can’t be issued Bar or distillery or any license of manufacturing liquor. This practice was introduced in the Excise Department a long back and continued to exist even today’’, sources said.
This was first pointed out by senior IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre, Samuel Verghese during his posting as Excise Commissioner. The Government had agreed to the suggestion of Mr Verghese and accordingly made it a law. Rules to this effect were issued vide No. 19/Liquor License/Sale Rule of Act 2005.
However, Daluja was running at least 14 wine shops, two liquor depots with distribution of some prominent brands and a bottling company on different names of his family members and relatives including Devinder Daluja (brother), Ram Pyari (mother), Suman Daluja (wife), Neelam Daluja (sister-in-law), Sahil Gupta (sister-in-law’s son) and some other relatives.
“This tactic was adopted by Raj Daluja to control the trade and run liquor mafia in Jammu with the help of some officials of the Excise Department’’, sources said, adding that all 14 shops, Bars, depots and a bottling factory were being run by Raj Daluja or Devinder Daluja but they had procured the licenses on different names of the members of their families and relatives to run the business.
However, according to sources, Daluja continued to deposit license fee for renewal of off-licenses every year for wine shops, file Income Tax returns, maintain book entries and gained cash control of the shops being run on the name of his family members and relatives to keep his complete control over them.
This illegal practice was being run by Daluja right under the noose of the Excise Department. However, since the Excise officials at the lower level were in-league with Raji for a variety of reasons, he continued to run liquor mafia without any check.
The Excise Department officials as well as other concerned officers were well aware of the fact that all the shops, Bars, depots and a bottling plant, which existed on the benami names were being controlled by Raji but were hesitant to take action against him as some of them have been won over by money powers and others by blackmailing tactics, for which Raj Daluja is known.
Sources said Raji had used several tactics to blackmail the officers of Excise and other Departments, who refused to succumb to his money power and other pressurizing techniques. A former official of the Excise Department, posted at his depot, was threatened that nude photographs of his family members will be circulated if he didn’t allow smuggling of liquor boxes out of the depot without paying any excise duty or Sales Tax.
“The case of former Excise official is not an isolated one. Raji is known for adopting such tactics against his rivals and officials, who refused to oblige him’’, they said, adding he adopted similar techniques to run the liquor mafia and earn money by hook or by crook.
According to sources, Raji had fabricated a fleet of tankers through which he was smuggling spirit from Madhya Pradesh. A body had been fabricated within the body of the tankers to bring double the capacity of spirit but show only one part of it at Lakhanpur to evade excise and other duties besides the Sales Tax.
Through this practice, Raji has caused losses to the State exchequer worth crores of rupees, they said, adding that this tactic of Daluja was also known to some officials within the Excise Department but they remained mum either under the influence of money or under pressure.
No permit is required for purchase of spirit from Madhya Pradesh. However, there had been several restrictions on the sale of spirit in Punjab. That is why he was purchasing spirit from Madhya Pradesh without vouchers.
Meanwhile, a large number of members of Amar Singh Club have approached the Excelsior and wanted to know that how a person, who had committed a murder and spent over three years in jail and was also involved in a case of impersonation, has been nominated as member of the Executive body of the Club by the Government.
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