Excise Raid / Dhaba Owner Arrested in Puri for Illegal Liquor Trade
Key Points
Excise officials raided Puri’s Darling Dhaba, arresting its owner over illegal liquor trade allegations. Intoxicants were seized, and investigations continue into the scale of operations and possible wider involvement.
Bhubaneswar, Oct 19: The Excise Department has arrested the owner of Darling Dhaba, located along the Puri bypass road, following allegations of illegal liquor trade being conducted on the premises.
Officials said the raid was carried out late at night after complaints surfaced that the dhaba remained open round‑the‑clock and was allegedly involved in unlawful liquor sales.
Acting on these reports, excise teams conducted a surprise inspection and seized various intoxicating substances from the establishment. The owner was taken into custody soon after.
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✨Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact quantity of seized materials or whether others were involved in the operation. Investigations are underway to determine the scale of the illegal trade and identify any additional links.
Darling Dhaba has been in controversy before. Just days earlier, a violent altercation outside the eatery drew attention to its late‑night operations and alleged illicit activities. Following these incidents, the Excise Department placed the dhaba under close watch, eventually leading to the raid.
Officials stated that the type of intoxicants stored and the
extent of the network behind the trade will be confirmed only after detailed
investigation. The incident has sparked discussions locally, raising serious
questions about the dhaba’s activities and compliance with the law.