Hisar: Nearly 2,000 bottles of liquor that police records showed had been destroyed under court orders were allegedly found intact in a container at Fatehabad Sadar police station, leading to the suspension of its former SHO on Friday and registration of a criminal case against him.Former SHO inspector Prahlad Singh has been booked after a preliminary inquiry ordered by Fatehabad SP Nikita Khattar found major discrepancies in the handling of seized liquor kept in police custody.The FIR, registered by Fatehabad City police on a complaint by additional SP Divyanshi Singla, invokes Sections 256 (public servant framing incorrect record) and 316(5) (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.According to the inquiry report, officials inspected the police malkhana and examined records related to a liquor smuggling case registered on March 1, 2024. The records showed that the seized liquor had been destroyed on June 5 this year in the presence of a duty magistrate and police officials following court orders.However, when officials sought the key to the container carrying the seized liquor, they were told it had been discarded. The container was subsequently opened after breaking the lock and 1,977 bottles of English liquor were allegedly recovered.The seized liquor was part of a consignment intercepted in March 2024 from a Rajasthan-registered container allegedly transporting liquor from Punjab to Gujarat. Police had then seized 950 cartons comprising 7,920 bottles of IMFL, 6,000 quarter bottles and 3,360 beer cans. Investigators also found a shortage of 561 liquor bottles from stock seized in another case registered on May 31, 2021. The inquiry further noted discrepancies in statements given by police personnel regarding the handling of the seized material.During questioning, home guard Anil Kumar and HKRN driver Vikram allegedly stated that on the night of June 15, they loaded six cartons of liquor into Prahlad Singh’s private vehicle on his instructions. Investigators said the movement was corroborated through CCTV footage.The inquiry also found that the keys to the malkhana were allegedly being kept personally by the former SHO. Police said the investigation is continuing.
