Haryana liquor theft scam: Excise inspector held

CHANDIGARH: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested an excise and taxation inspector for his alleged involvement in the multi-crore liquor theft scam of Kharkhoda in Sonipat.
Dhirender Kumar is the first official of the excise and taxation department of Haryana who has been arrested in this case. He is currently lodged in SIT custody.
SIT head and Rohtak SP Rahul Kumar said Dhirender has confessed about his involvement and endorsed links between main accused Bhupender Singh and sacked inspector Jasbir Singh and other cops and officials of the excise department.
"Dhirender was the one who had finalised the place which would serve as a godown for seized liquor and this godown was under his custody. He was in complete knowhow of the state of affairs, especially about Bhupender and Jasbir's activities. He is in our custody for two days and we are hopeful of getting important information related to smuggling of liquor," the SIT head said.
According to police, Dhirender had also facilitated inspector Jasbir Singh for keeping unaccounted liquor in the godown along with seized liquor. He also helped in storage of liquor which was meant for smuggling from Rajpura in Punjab, sources said.
Besides, Dhirender was also allegedly involved in arranging free movement of trucks ferrying smuggled liquor in Haryana, sources added.
The incident dates back to last week of April when Sonipat police had registered an FIR as over 9,000 cases of liquor worth several lakhs of rupees had gone missing from the godown of excise department in Kharkhoda.
ADGP Rohtak range Sandeep Khirwar constituted the SIT headed by Rohtak SP Rahul Kumar to probe the case. Bhupender Singh, a liquor smuggler, was first to be arrested in the case. He has also been arrested by Gujarat police for his involvement.
Interrogation of Bhupender revealed involvement of the former SHO of Kharkhoda police station Jasbir Singh. Singh has bene sacked and he is on the run. After Bhupender, the SIT arrested his associate Satish Bhainsru and ASI Jaipal Singh. While a few cops and officials of excise department are among those booked by police.
Dhirender Kumar had been transferred to Fatehabad just ahead of the lockdown and his involvement was alleged into the missing stocks from liquor godown during the lockdown. The issue of missing stock is already under the scanner of Special Enquiry Committee headed by T C Gupta on the orders of home minister Anil Vij.