Two vendors jailed for illicit liquor trade

Kendrapada: The district and sessions court, Jagatsinghpur, on Friday sentenced two vendors to three years of imprisonment for illegal liquor trade overturning their previous acquittal by a court.

Abhijit Nayak and Pratap Mallick of Kandarapati village, were found guilty under various sections of the Excise Act. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each convict with an additional three-month imprisonment in case they default in payment.

The case dates back to 2023 when excise officials, during a night patrol near Raghunathpur bazaar, intercepted a van loaded with illicit liquor and arrested the duo for illegal transportation and sale of alcohol.

Though the gram nyayalaya (rural court) of Raghunathpur had initially acquitted both accused, the excise department challenged the verdict in the district court.