2 distilleries, 3 bottling plants shut in Punjab

Chandigarh : The Election Commission (EC) today ordered two distilleries, including one owned by a Bathinda family close to the ruling Badals, and three bottling units in Punjab to shut operations till the Assembly elections on February 4.
Varun Roojam, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, said the operations at BCL, Bathinda and Patiala Distilleries as well as three bottling units — Adi Brownson Breweries, Gurdaspur, United Spirits, Moonak, and Pernod Ricord, Mohali — had been halted till the elections.
The orders come days after over 1 lakh litres of illicit liquor was seized in Bathinda and Sangrur districts. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh said the seized liquor was distilled and bottled at these units and they could not dispatch their liquor stock till the polling day.