Chautala govt sets up panel to probe prohibition `scam'

Chautala govt sets up panel to probe prohibition `scam'
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

CHANDIGARH, DEC 8: The Haryana government today appointed Justice G.S. Chahal, a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as one-man Commission of Inquiry to probe the Bansi Lal government's decision to impose prohibition and later withdraw it.

The commission, which has been set up under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, will also inquire into creation of alleged ``mafia'' involved in large-scale smuggling of liquor during the prohibition and widespread allegations of corruption, in addition to the role played by persons in high places and their relatives in abetting these acts.

In also has to investigate whether some persons played an active role for monetary gain in lifting prohibition, according to an official spokesman. The commission has to submit its report within six months. The decision to impose prohibition in the state was taken by Bansi Lal when he took over as chief minister after his party's victory in the assembly elections in May, 1996. The government implemented the decisionin July, 1996, with the government working overtime to impose the ban. However, its efforts failed as unscrupulous elements smuggled in liquor from neighbouring states.

Authorities tried to check smuggling by ordering a crackdown and registering over one lakh cases, but this didn't really affect the bootlegging.