Odisha Excise department has ordered an inspection of Out Still (OS) shops to ascertain if all licensing conditions were followed as per the 2023-24 excise policy after Income Tax (I-T) sleuths seized cash estimated over ₹350 crore from premises linked to some distilleries in the State.
“Inspection of shops and ascertaining that licensing conditions are followed in shops are our routine job. However, we have asked field officials to complete inspections in a week time,” said Narasingha Bhola, State Excise Commissioner. Officials will physically check registers of shops in 22 excise districts of the State, said Mr. Bhola.
Regarding the discovery of a substantial amount of cash from distillery premises, the Excise Commissioner remarked that the I-T department had not yet issued a formal statement or provided a rationale for the cash accumulation. Mr. Bhola stated that if the evasion of excise duty or concealment of production details was suspected, a thorough investigation would be conducted.
