Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 28

A day after facing a penalty of Rs 25,000 for charging actor Rahul Bose Rs 442 with GST for two bananas, there is more trouble for JW Marriott, Chandigarh. The UT Excise and Taxation Department today issued a challan to the hotel for keeping liquor without the hologram.

The hotel may lose its bar licence for violation of provisions of the excise policy.

As per Clause 46 of the excise policy approved by the Administration, no licensee can sell liquor without the hologram. The violation of the clause has provision for penalty, including the cancellation of the bar licence.

Teams of the Excise Department found a number of liquor bottles without the hologram during checking at the hotel after the tweet by Rahul Bose last week.

Mandip Singh Brar, Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Chandigarh, ordered an inquiry into the issue. The teams found 12 bottles of Chivas Regal, 10 bottles of Cragganmore, seven bottles of Rowson’s Reserve, four bottles of Clynelsih and one bottle of Antiquity without the hologram at the hotel.

Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner RK Chaudhary said of the five brands, the Rowson’s Reserve brand of whisky was not approved by the Excise Department for the past two years. He said a challan had been issued to the hotel, which would be placed before the Collector for the final decision. Under the Act, the Collector will impose a penalty or cancel the bar licence after giving an opportunity to the hotel management to present their case.

While the department has been taking action against vends for selling liquor without the hologram, this is the first time that such a case has surfaced in a five-star hotel. The department imposes penalty ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh on violators.

Hologram ensures authenticity