Kozhikode : The tranquil spirit of the festive season was jolted in Kozhikode as a foreign liquor coupon disguised as an Onam gift took the region by storm. The incident, which quickly gained notoriety on social media platforms, has now culminated in the arrest of a suspect involved in the fabrication of these misleading coupons.
The individual apprehended by law enforcement authorities has been identified as Shimjit, a resident of Beypur. The arrest was carried out under the direction of Kozhikode Excise Circle Inspector C. Sarath Babu, who led a dedicated team to uncover the details of this audacious scheme.
The fraudulent coupon promised recipients the chance to obtain various brands of alcohol as first and second prizes, all under the guise of the traditional Onam gesture known as “Thiruvonam Bumper.” However, this seemingly innocuous gesture took a dark turn as the coupon scheme was unveiled.
The accused had produced a thousand such counterfeit coupons for the illicit draw, of which 700 were discovered to be non-genuine and void. The team also confiscated 300 corresponding counterfoils that were used to support the deception. This operation ran afoul of Abkari Act 55H, which pertains to the unlawful production and distribution of alcoholic products.
Following the arrest, the Excise Department issued a stern warning against the proliferation of such coupons via social media platforms, highlighting that this practise is not only deceptive but also a punishable offence under the law. The department emphasised its commitment to take strict action against individuals contributing to the distribution of such fraudulent materials.
The successful apprehension of the suspect was a collaborative effort, orchestrated by Preventive Officer Anildut Kumar and executed by Civil Excise Officers CP Shaju, Viva Vinu, and MM Bneesh.
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