When buying jaggery raises eyebrows

Excise dept. asks store owners to keep an eye on its purchase

Dropping in at a neighbourhood grocery store for buying jaggery during this lockdown could prove to be a tricky affair. And if the quantity sought is perceived as ‘unusual’ by the store owner, the buyer may even have to part with his personal details, including contact number, which may eventually end up with the excise authorities. Anticipating a spike in illegal brewing owing to the extended shutdown of bars and liquor outlets, the excise authorities have asked grocery and provision store owners to keep an eye over the excessive purchase of jaggery, an essential ingredient of illegal brewing.