NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar administration has banned the sale of alcohol in the district for 48 hours, beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and ending at 6 p.m. on Friday, the election day, in anticipation of polling.
The prohibition will also take effect on June 4, which is the district’s counting day. Violators of the order will be subject to legal action under the applicable provisions, which include the Excise Duty Act of 1964.
Manish Kumar Verma, the chief election officer and district magistrate, issued an order on Monday regarding this matter.
Excise officer (Gautam Budh Nagar) Subodh Kumar announced that all establishments selling domestic and imported liquor, beer, premium retail vendors, model shops or bars, wholesale licenses, military canteens, and other items will be closed for 48 hours, beginning at 6 p.m. on April 24 and ending at 6 p.m. on April 26 (election day), due to the district’s elections on April 26.
The officer stated, “The prohibition will also take effect on June 4, which is the district’s counting day,” and that “violation of the order would attract legal action under the relevant sections, including the Excise Duty Act, 1964.”
According to officials, the restrictions are meant to prevent political parties or their candidates from using alcohol to entice voters to cast ballots, guaranteeing a free and fair election in the district.
In order to prevent poll candidates or their supporters from distributing alcohol, flying squads, police departments, and other enforcement agencies, along with officials on election duty, have also been instructed to maintain a strict vigil and track the movements of large consignments of beer and foreign liquor made in India.
10,000 bottles of domestic alcohol valued at тВ╣7.5 lakh were seized by the Greater Noida police last week in the Bisrakh area, and two Delhi residents who were the suspects were taken into custody. The two had bought alcohol together in Ballabhgarh, Haryana.