A sealed liquor shop in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 16: The liquor and beer caskets have vanished from the open market in the city after the Election Commission imposed a blanket ban of its sale.

However, it has made inroads to various dhabas of the city.

All the beer parlours and liquor shops in the city have been closed for the past two days as “dry day” is being observed on the eve of polls. “There has been a clear instruction from the commission to close down the bar. Though we have the licence, we have closed down the bar since yesterday,” said a staff member of a city-based hotel. Employees of other hotels also echoed the same.

Sources said the guests, who are regular and close to the hotel management, were being served with the liquor only on request. “Those, who frequent the bar and are known to us, are being served with the liquor. At least we have to run the business. But, it is not open to all,” said a hotel employee.

The liquor is also available in a few dhabas located on city outskirts. Besides, liquor pouches are available in the city slums. “A quarter bottle of liquor, which was being sold at Rs 100 earlier, is now available for Rs 150. It will be sold at Rs 200 on the polling day,” said a dhaba employee.

However, the country liquor is available in all slums, including Salia Sahi, the largest slum cluster in the city. “The ban on liquor should not be imposed. There is always a threat of spurious liquor sale if there is restriction on sale of liquor,” said Kalia Sahu, a slum dweller of Salia Sahi.

“We have no information on flow of money and liquor to influence the voters. All steps have been taken to curb it in a stricter way,” said chief electoral officer Mona Sharma.

On the officer’s direction, the excise department has registered 2,218 cases, arrested 1,790 persons and seized 38,004 litres of liquor worth Rs 38.04 lakh. They have also seized 27 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.70 lakh and two quintals of bhang.

To check the money flow, police mobilisation has also been intensified. Sharma has seized Rs 1.86 crore of unaccounted cash from various sources.

“The money mobilisation has already been done. The local councillors have taken charge of the local area,” said a ruling party member.