Liquor bottles are finding their way to consumers across the steel city even during lockdown, when the sale has officially stopped since March 25.

Various popular Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) brands are being sold furtively and at higher prices, to people willing to pay extra.

The state excise department officials, who are supposed to remain vigilant on the 21-day dry spell, seem to have turned a blind eye.

A popular brand of liquor, the MRP of which is Rs 900, is now being sold for anywhere between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,600 a bottle.

But the liquor bottles are reaching to the consumers only through “reliable” hands.

Umesh Pandey, a resident of Sonari, said: “I was facing problems (in getting hold of booze) for the last one week. But now it is resolved. I have come across a person who is providing me my liquor brand, though at a premium rate.”

Like Pandey, there are few others who are happy to find “reliable sources” to give them their favourite brand of tipple.

Both the customer and the supplier protect each other.

There are over 100 IMFL shops across the steel city and about a dozen bars which all are closed since March 25 .

An official of the excise department, Mahendra Deogam, said their office is closed since the lockdown.

“As office is closed, we are not carrying out any inspection of liquor shops nor any raids,” Deogam told The Telegraph.

But the police is doing what the state excise department is supposed to do.

A week ago, a team of police officials seized 156 liquor bottles from an autorickshaw from Dimna Chowk under Ulidih police station area during a routine vehicle checking drive, about 8km away from the heart of the city.

Superintendent of police (city) Subhas Chandra Jat said checking the clandestine sale of liquor was the onus of the excise department. But the police can seize liquor consignment, if found, during checking.