Patiala, May 13, 2025 — In a major breakthrough, the Patiala Police and Excise Department on Monday seized 600 litres of methanol, a highly toxic chemical often used in spurious liquor production. The seizure is suspected to be connected to the recent Majitha liquor tragedy in which multiple lives were lost in Amritsar.
The consignment, traced from Transport Nagar in Delhi, was intercepted at Tepla police post on the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Shambhu–Banur road. The methanol was concealed in three drums inside truck number PB 10 H 1577, which has been taken into custody. The truck driver has been arrested, and a detailed investigation is underway.
SSP Patiala Varun Sharma, addressing the media, stated the operation was executed under directions from DGP Gaurav Yadav, as part of Punjab’s intensified crackdown on illegal liquor networks under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
“Had this consignment reached its destination, it could have endangered hundreds of lives,” said SSP Sharma, adding that the swift action followed intelligence shared by DIG Border Range soon after the Majitha incident.
The raid was conducted by a joint team led by SP(D) Gurbans Singh Bains, DSP Harmanjit Singh Cheema, and Excise Assistant Commissioner Rajesh Aerry, along with Excise and Police officers from the region.
The Punjab Police reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling illicit liquor operations and ensuring such tragedies are not repeated.
