FIR Against Liquor Bottling Unit Quashed Over Failure to Affix Holograms; ₹1 Lakh Penalty Imposed Under Excise Act: Himachal Pradesh High Court

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has declared that the failure to affix holograms on liquor bottles does not amount to a criminal offence under Sections 39(1) and 39(2) of the Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011. The Court clarified that such an omission falls under Section 43 of the Act, which deals with penalties that are compoundable. As a result, the Court quashed the FIR and criminal proceedings against the proprietor…