A team from the special squad of the Kollam Excise office that detected the Thazhava spirit case in September 2013 has been selected for the maiden cash reward of the Excise Department. Orders in this connection were issued by Excise Commissioner Anil Xavier on Wednesday.
The total reward of Rs.43,263 will be shared by six members of the squad. The amount is 25 per cent of Rs.1,69,450 realised through the auction of 7,000 litres of spirit and two vehicles seized in connection with the Thazhava case. The special squad was led by the then Kollam Excise circle inspector B. Suresh.
Mr. Suresh will get a reward of Rs.21,182 from the amount and the balance will be shared by inspectors M. Mahesh and G. Vinod, preventive officer D. Mohanan and civil excise officers Arun Antony and M. Manojlal.
A portion of the spirit in connection with the case was seized from a car at East Kallada on September 2, 2013. Following investigations by the squad, more spirit was seized from another car parked in a garage at Thazhava.