ACCUSED ESCAPED FROM EXCISE LOCK-UP, THREE HGs REMOVED

ACCUSED ESCAPED FROM EXCISE LOCK-UP, THREE HGs REMOVED

6-SEP-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA---------------------------The district administration has taken a serious view of the incident where an accused, arrested in a liquor smuggling case, escaped from the lock-up at the Excise Police Station in Bhabua. Acting swiftly on the District Magistrate's instructions, the three Home Guards deployed at the lock-up have been removed with immediate effect. Meanwhile, a high-level inquiry team has been constituted to conduct a detailed investigation into the entire incident. According to reports, on September 3, 2026, a Prohibition Department team seized 358.350 liters of illicit foreign liquor from a Maruti Suzuki car. Deepak, a resident of Haryana, was arrested in connection with this case, and Excise Police Station Case No. 429/26 was registered. However, during an inspection on the morning of September 4, the accused was found missing from the Excise lock-up in Bhabua. Upon learning of the incident, the District Magistrate took a serious view of the matter and directed the Superintendent of Prohibition to conduct a thorough probe and ensure strict disciplinary and legal action against the officials and personnel found at fault. Following these instructions, the Superintendent of Prohibition examined the available CCTV footage. Preliminary observations revealed that the conduct of the Home Guards deployed for the lock-up's security was suspicious and negligent. Subsequently, acting on the District Magistrate's orders, a letter was sent to the District Commandant (Kaimur) to remove the three deployed Home Guards immediately. Officials stated that the scope of the investigation is not limited to the Home Guards alone; if the negligence or complicity of any other official or staff member comes to light, action will be taken against them in accordance with the rules. An FIR has been registered against the guilty parties under relevant sections of the Prohibition Act and other applicable laws. The district administration has made it clear that any negligence or suspicious involvement in the discharge of duties will not be tolerated, and strict legal action will be taken against all individuals found guilty during the investigation.