India, Dec. 27 -- The Haryana excise and taxation department has launched surprise inspections of retail liquor vends across the city after excise officials recovered 3,921 cartons and 176 loose bottles of imported foreign liquor, valued at around Rs.10 crore, from a licensed premises earlier this month.

The seized stock was allegedly stored and sold without mandatory excise holograms, track-and-trace strips or tax payment, raising concerns about systemic violations within the licensed retail network, officials said.

"For the first time, retail liquor vends are being inspected through surprise checks conducted by DETCs from other districts. Earlier, enforcement focus was largely on wholesalers. Now, retail outlets are also under the sca...