# Six liquor vends sealed in Kullu for overcharging customers

> The excise department has sealed six liquor shops in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on each following complaints of overcharging.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Himachal Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-09-10 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/kullu-men-sharaba-ke-chhaha-theke-sila-emaarapi-se-jyada-kimata-vasulane-para-giri-gaja-30709 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Kullu liquor vends, Himachal excise department, overcharging action, Gagnesh Gupta, liquor shop sealed

The excise department in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh has taken strict action against liquor vendors flouting pricing regulations by sealing six vends. The crackdown comes in the wake of persistent complaints regarding operators charging amounts higher than the fixed retail price, prompting immediate administrative intervention.

## Action follows complaints from tourists
According to available details, the punitive measures were initiated after authorities received multiple written and secret complaints, notably from tourists, highlighting instances of overpricing at these locations. Taking cognizance of the grievances, the department moved swiftly to inspect the vends and verify the allegations of arbitrary pricing above the printed maximum retail price.

## Vends sealed across major locations
Gagnesh Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of State Taxes and Excise for Kullu and Lahaul Spiti, stated that the liquor shops located in Shamshi, Bashing, Sarvari Bazaar, Jagatsukh, Manalsu, and Haripur have been locked down. Furthermore, a penalty of Rs 25 thousand has been slapped on each of the six outlets. Store operators will be permitted to resume business operations only after clearing the imposed fines.

## Stern warning to all liquor vendors
Issuing a clear and unambiguous warning to all wine shop operators, the administration directed them to sell products strictly at authorized rates. Officials cautioned that any future recurrence of overcharging will invite severe penalties, including the potential cancellation of their operating licenses. Notably, the liquor vends across Kullu, Mandi, and Lahaul Spiti regions have been acquired by a company based in Telangana.

## Stock shortages and recent illegal seizures
Apart from the pricing violations, authorities noted that several liquor vends in the district are currently grappling with stock shortages. The department is actively coordinating with the concerned company management to resolve these supply chain issues promptly, though a noticeable scarcity of beer has been reported in the market. It is worth mentioning that just a few days prior to this action, the Kullu excise department had intercepted a truck carrying 500 cases of illegal beer.

## What this means for you
Consumers and tourists purchasing liquor will benefit from strict enforcement of standardized retail pricing and transparency.

- **Across India:** Authorities nationwide are intensifying surprise inspections at commercial outlets to curb illegal overcharging and protect consumer rights.
- **In Kullu:** Local residents and visiting tourists in Kullu district will no longer face inflated pricing at liquor vends, ensuring fair trade practices.

## Why this happened
The punitive action was triggered by persistent written and confidential complaints regarding vendors charging above the authorized retail price.

- **Violation of regulations:** Collecting money in excess of the printed rate constitutes a direct legal offense, prompting immediate administrative intervention.
- **Grievance redressal:** Authorities acted upon repeated complaints lodged by tourists and locals who flagged unauthorized overpricing at multiple outlets.
- Operational oversight: These irregularities emerged at vends managed under the company from Telangana that recently acquired liquor contracts across the region.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How many liquor vends were sealed in Kullu?
The excise department sealed a total of six liquor vends in the Kullu district.

### 2. What penalty was imposed on the sealed vends?
A fine of Rs 25,000 has been levied on each of the sealed liquor shops.

### 3. Why was this action taken?
The action was taken following complaints that contractors were charging prices higher than the authorized rates.

### 4. Which areas had their liquor shops sealed?
Shops in Shamshi, Bashing, Sarvari Bazaar, Jagatsukh, Manalsu, and Haripur have been sealed.

### 5. Who owns the liquor contracts in Kullu, Mandi, and Lahaul Spiti?
A company from Telangana has acquired the liquor vends across these regions.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._