Uttarakhand officials have launched inspections at liquor shops in Nainital and Dehradun following repeated complaints that customers were being charged more than the printed MRP and could not see official rate lists.

The action covers both country liquor and English liquor outlets. Complaints have come from tourists and local residents in Nainital, Dehradun and Haridwar, although the reported inspections detailed here took place in Nainital and Dehradun.

District Magistrates Lallit Mohan Rayal of Nainital and Dr Ashish Chauhan of Dehradun directed administrative and excise teams to conduct intensive checks. The operations included surprise visits and verification of shop records.

SDM tests Bhawali shop as customer

In Bhawali, Dhari Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anurag Arya visited an English liquor shop without identifying himself as an official. The seller asked for ₹50 above the bottle’s MRP.

When Arya negotiated, the seller reduced the excess charge by ₹30. The shopkeeper then began charging the official price after people nearby learned that the customer was the SDM.

Inspectors also found that the shop did not have a rate list displayed. The incident formed part of the Nainital administration’s response to complaints about overcharging at tourist locations.

A separate inspection was conducted in the Lalkuan area under SDM Rekha Kohli. Officials checked liquor outlets for pricing violations and compliance with excise rules. They compared stock registers with the rate charts and prepared action against shops where violations were found.

Dehradun teams check outlets across several areas

In Dehradun, City Magistrate Rakesh Tiwari and Sadar SDM Apurva Singh led checks in Majra, Patel Nagar and nearby areas. The inspections reported sales above the prescribed price at liquor shops.

At a shop near ISBT, officials reported overcharging and found 42 bottles whose batch numbers did not match the available records. The inspection also found unauthorised salespersons selling liquor, according to the administrative action report.

A team led by SDM Headquarters Ravindra Jwantha inspected a shop in Premnagar. Its stock register had not been updated, and people described as non-certified were found at the counter.

Joint Magistrates Rahul Anand and Harshita Singh led inspections in Jakhan and the Rajpur Road area. Officials found that several shops had not updated their stock registers. Some also lacked displayed rate lists and the excise department’s complaint number.

These checks focused on whether customers could verify official prices and whether shop records accurately reflected the available stock. The findings also raised questions about who was authorised to sell liquor at the counters inspected.

Administration warns of continued checks

The Dehradun and Nainital administrations said they would not tolerate overcharging, manipulation of stock, differences in batch numbers or sales by unauthorised staff.

Reports for statutory and punitive action against shops found violating rules have been prepared. Officials have also said that surprise inspections will continue.

The inspections matter particularly in tourist areas, where visitors and local customers may have limited knowledge of official prices. A clearly displayed rate list can help buyers check the MRP before completing a purchase, while updated records allow officials to compare stock with shop registers.

No final penalty details were provided in the available material for each outlet. The reported next step is continued administrative and excise inspection, followed by action under the applicable rules where violations are established.

Conclusion

The campaign has identified alleged overcharging, absent rate lists, record discrepancies and unauthorised sales activity in liquor shops in Nainital and Dehradun. Officials have prepared action reports and stated that surprise inspections will continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why were liquor shops inspected in Uttarakhand?

Officials acted after repeated complaints that shops were charging more than MRP and failing to display rate lists.

Q. Where did the Nainital inspection take place?

SDM Anurag Arya inspected an English liquor shop in Bhawali. Separate checks were conducted in the Lalkuan area under SDM Rekha Kohli.

Q. How much extra was sought from the Bhawali customer?

The shop initially sought ₹50 above the bottle’s MRP. After negotiation, the excess amount was reduced by ₹30.

Q. What was found at the ISBT liquor shop?

Officials reported overcharging and said the batch numbers of 42 bottles did not match the available records. Unauthorised salespersons were also found during the checks.

Q. Which Dehradun areas were inspected?

Teams checked Majra, Patel Nagar, ISBT, Premnagar, Jakhan and the Rajpur Road area.

Q. Will the inspections continue?

Yes. The Nainital and Dehradun administrations said surprise inspections and punitive action would continue against rule violations.