VARANASI, April 13 -- Four liquor shops were seized for violating Rule-18(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Excise Composite Shop (License management Rules-2025) by a team of police led by Kotwali in-charge inspector Dayashankar Singh on the direction of the district magistrate Varanasi Satyendra Kumar. The rule pertains to the selection of licencees. Simultaneously, a licence suspension order-cum-notice was issued to the licensees. Kashi zone police in a communique stated that the action was taken in continuation of the campaign of confiscation of properties acquired through criminal activities by accused involved in the codeine cough syrup case. At the direction of the district magistrate Satyendra Kumar, a team of police in the presence of excise department sleuths seized the four liquor shops. At least a relative each of the licence holders was closely associated with the codeine cough syrup smuggling syndicate, said a police officer. Shubham Jaiswal is the mastermind of the codeine cough syrup smuggling racket. District magistrate issued order-cum-showcause notice for suspension of licences of four liquor shops for violating Rule-18 (1) (d) of Uttar Pradesh Excise Composite Shop (License Management) Rules-2025. These shops, based in Lahrtara, Parade Kothi, Kajjakpura, and Khojwa, were seized as per direction, said police. Laharatar-based liquor shop's licence was in the name Shivangi Jaiswal, wife of Vaibhav Jaiswal, Parade Kothi based liquor shop's licence was in the name of Babita Singh, Kajjakpura based liquor shop's licence was in the name of Usha Devi and Khojawa based liquor shop's licence was in the name of Radhika Jaiswal. Security deposits of two composite liquor shops in Madhopur and Shahbabad were seized, police said in a communique....