Mumbai, February 24 Maharashtra Excise Commissioner Rajesh Deshmukh dismissed reports on Tuesday that the state government was cancelling statutory "dry days" for Holi, Muharram, and Gandhi Jayanti, calling them "fake news," and asserted that the existing liquor policy remains unchanged.
Deshmukh clarified that the state will continue to enforce eight mandatory dry days under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
This clarification comes amid reports on social media claiming that the ban on the sale of liquor on Holi, Muharram, and Gandhi Jayanti had been revoked.
According to the existing rules, the sale of liquor remains prohibited on January 26 (Republic Day), January 30 (Martyrs' Day), May 1 (Maharashtra Day), Ashadhi Ekadashi, August 15 (Independence Day), Anant Chaturdashi, October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti/Prohibition Week), and Kartiki Ekadashi.
The commissioner further stated that under section 142 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, district collectors are empowered to declare additional dry days within their respective jurisdictions.