Rs 4.5 cr fine slapped for drinking in public in twin city from 2019

Bhubaneswar, Sep 16: As many as 88,437 people were caught and fined for drinking in public places in the twin city of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar during the last 46 months, said police. Police have collected fines of Rs 4,49,48,760 from the offenders during this period. While 25,840 drunkards were caught by Cuttack Urban Police District, Bhubaneswar police fined 62,597 offenders. Drinking of liquor is banned in fields, foreign liquor off shops, bus stands, railway stations, and roadside shops. However, the denizens of the twin city are infamous for drinking liquor in these places. According to police data, a total of Rs 3,13,09,500 fine was collected from the drunkards for drinking in public between April 1, 2019 and October 31, 2022. Police had caught the highest number of 21,070 drunkards from Bhubaneswar in 2020 and collected a fine of Rs 1, 05,38,000. Rs 50,48,000 was collected from 10,088 persons for drinking in public in 2019 and Rs 53,62,000 from 10,718 drunkards in 2021, said data. Police intensified the drive from January 1, 2022, and caught 20,721 persons while drinking in public by October 31 with the collection of Rs 1,36, 01,500 fine from them. Similarly, 25,840 drunkards were caught drinking in public places under the Cuttack Urban Police District with the collection of RS 1,36,39,260 fine. Police collected Rs 27,14,100 from 4,913 drunkards in 2019, Rs 29,81,510 from 4,816 persons in 2020 and Rs 28,45,050 from 5,617 people for drinking in public in 2021. Police caught 10,494 drunkards between January 1, 2022, and October 31 with a collection of Rs 50,98,600 fine.