Odisha Excise Registers 161% Growth In Detection Of NDPS Cases In FY 2022-23

Bhubaneswar: The Excise department of Odisha detected record number of 1,949 cases under NDPS Act in financial year 2022-23 against 748 cases in 2021-22, registering an increase of 161%.

The Excise officials also arrested record 2,232 persons under the NDPS Act in FY 2022-23 against 849 persons in 2021-22 with an increase of 163%. In 2020-21, only 381 persons were arrested.

It was revealed at the annual review meeting of the department, chaired by Excise Commissioner Ashish Kumar Singh through virtual mode on Sunday. The meeting was held to review collection of revenue, enforcement activities. The detection of cases and arrest of bootleggers have increased substantially in the financial year due to increased enforcement activities.

The details of enforcement activities in the two financial years are as below:

• Record 61,377 cases were detected in 2022-23 against 40,598 cases in the previous year with an increase of 51%.
• Record number of 49,211 persons were arrested against 33,551 persons in the last year, showing an increase of 47%.
• As many as 32,512 gram of heroin were seized against 12,567 gram in the last year registering an increase of 159%.
• Total 41,330 kg of ganja were seized against 31,566 kg in the last year with an increase of 30%.
• Total Rs 8967.49 crore towards Excise revenue including VAT were collected against Rs 7622.41 crore in the previous year showing a growth of 17.65%.

It was also revealed at the meeting that in tune with 5T initiatives of the state government, the department has switched over to the digital workplace eAbkari with the technical support of NIC by developing and implementing about 50 online modules bringing transparent, hassles free, timely service delivery.

The Excise Commissioner also reviewed the data digitisation, implementation of IT, non-settlement of shops, arrear revenue collection, compliance of petitions and instructed all Superintendents of Excise & EI EB Units to strengthen and enhance the enforcement measures for the year 2023-24.

Besides, the Superintendents of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Sundargarh were directed to conduct sustained raids in Jharsuguda and adjacent areas on account of byelection to Jharsuguda Assembly constituency. The EDC, ND, Sambalpur was instructed to monitor the enforcement activities on daily basis.

The meeting was attended by Rama Chandra Palata, Additional Commissioner; Sarat Chandra Mohapatra, Joint Commissioners; Rama Chandra Mishra, EDC, Enforcement; Rajat Kumar Praharaj, EDC, Policy; Somanath Majhi, EDC, Establishment; Rajendra Bhotra, EDC, ND; Dambarudhara Khanda, EDC, SD and all Superintendents of Excise.