Gurgaon Court Rejects Bail in Major Liquor Diversion and Tax Evasion Case
A city court in Gurgaon has denied bail to Ankush Goyal, a liquor store owner identified as a key conspirator in a significant illicit liquor diversion and tax evasion racket. The decision came after investigators presented substantial evidence linking him to the organized scam.
Court Cites Gravity of Offenses and Organized Crime Nature
Additional sessions judge Amit Gautam ruled that the severity of the charges, the organized nature of the criminal activity, and the pending recovery of crucial documents made Goyal's release untenable at this stage. The court emphasized that the allegations involve serious crimes including forgery, illegal liquor trade, and substantial revenue loss to the state.
Raid Uncovers Large-Scale Liquor Diversion Operation
The case originated from a raid conducted on December 9 last year at The Theka liquor vend near Signature Towers in Gurgaon. Acting on a tip-off, the excise department seized 3,821 cases and 176 loose bottles of foreign-made liquor that allegedly lacked mandatory holograms and track-and-trace strips.
Investigators revealed that the liquor, originally destined for Goa, was illegally diverted to the Gurgaon establishment. Police further claimed that consignments intended for Goa and Maharashtra were rerouted under the guise of bond-to-bond transfers. Instead of reaching their interstate destinations, these shipments were unlawfully unloaded and sold in Gurgaon.
Prosecution Details Organized Tax Evasion Methods
Public prosecutor Dhananjay Kumar argued that sales were conducted through fake, computer-generated bills as part of a systematic method to evade excise duties. The prosecution presented multiple pieces of evidence against Goyal, including:
- Disclosure statements from involved parties
- Bank transaction records showing suspicious financial flows
- Call detail records indicating coordination
- A Rs 9 lakh transfer from the outlet's bank account suggesting Goyal's 25% partnership interest
"He is also accused of arranging transportation vehicles, managing operations, and facilitating illegal supply from bonded warehouses," the public prosecutor stated during proceedings.
Unrecovered Computer System Raises Suspicion
The prosecution further contended that forged bills were generated using a computer system that remains unrecovered. This missing evidence, they argued, strengthens suspicion of deliberate concealment of crucial proof in the case.
Court Rejects Defense Claims of False Implication
The court dismissed Goyal's arguments about false implication and procedural lapses, observing that the material collected so far indicates his active participation in the conspiracy. Judge Gautam noted that the organized and systemic nature of the illegal operation suggested coordinated criminal activity rather than isolated violations.
The court also highlighted Goyal's alleged active role in arranging illegal supply chains and managing operational aspects of the diversion scheme. With the investigation still in progress, the court held that releasing him could jeopardize evidence collection and that this was not an appropriate stage to grant bail, particularly when the probe places Goyal as a central figure in the conspiracy.
The denial of bail underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating this case of organized crime and revenue loss through illicit liquor trade and tax evasion mechanisms in the Gurgaon region.
