Anshika Tiwari-
A single-judge bench of Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has denied the bail application of a bootlegger Avnash Singh Kalsi.
The accused was booked for supplying illegal spurious poisonous liquor to the poor and habitual drunkard section of the society. Consumption of this liquor allegedly led to many deaths and instances of people losing their eyesight.
The court observed inter alia,
“If such kind of persons are released on bail, they would further decay the very system of the Society and their such acts would render the society full with widowed women; orphaned children and old and infirm parents with full of woes and sorrow tales.”
The relevant sections under which case was registered against him are Sections 328, 272, and 120-B IPC, Sections 326, 109 and 114 IPC (added later on) and Sections 61 and 63 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914.
In another matter he has been booked under Sections 302, 304, 328, 326, 109, and 120-B IPC, Sections 61 and 63 of the Punjab Excise Act and Section 6 of Poisons Act 1919.
The court examined the modus operandi of the accused in preparing the spurious country-made liquor and observed that the accused used to mint money at the expense of the lives of innocent and poor people.
Having played havoc and killing people passively with such brutality, the accused snatched from others their right to a dignified life just for monetary benefits. Dismissing the petition, the honourable court remarked that such a person does not deserve to be treated with any kind of leniency or mercy.
“It is imperative that he be dealt with iron hands”, the court concluded.