Excise teams to monitor liquor shops during polls

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to curb use of alcohol to influence voters in the run up to Lok Sabha polls, the Delhi excise department has constituted various teams comprising 44 officials at district level to monitor recordings of CCTV cameras installed at liquor shops. Delhi is set to go to polls on May 12.

Recently, the excise department had warned shops against selling liquor on the basis of “coupon or token”, and directed them to strictly follow opening and closing time of their establishments. The department had said that any violator would face strictest action.

The department has already set up a four-member team each in all 11 district each, assigning them to monitor  footage of CCTV cameras installed at retail shops on a regular basis. In his written communication to his officers, Deputy excise commissioner Sandeep Mishra said  that the first member of each district will obtain the list of retail vends of their concerned district and  allocate shops to each member of the team for viewing of CCTV recordings till completion of the election process.

Mr Mishra said inspecting officials have been directed to inform the critical events to senior officers.