MAHARASHTRA EXCISE DEPARTMENT — GOVERNMENT RESOLUTION ANALYSIS

Document Type: Government Resolution (Shaasan Narnay) — Policy Directive on Intent Letters (Iradapatra) and Extensions

Reference Number: एमपीएल-0921/प्र.क्र.166/राउशु-3 [MPL-0921/PR.KR.166/RAUSHU-3]
Issued By: Government of Maharashtra, Home Department (Griha Vibhag)
Effective Date: 8 November 2021 (तदनांक:- 8 नोव्हेंबर, 2021)
Portal ID: 1516

SUMMARY

This Government Resolution establishes a formal procedure for granting and extending Intent Letters (Iradapatra) for applicants seeking manufacturing licenses under the Bombay Prohibition Act 1949. Previously, intent letters were granted free of charge without time-bound implementation or renewal requirements. This GR introduces: (1) mandatory intent letter stage before final license issuance; (2) fees of ₹2 lakh for initial intent letter, ₹3 lakh for first extension, ₹5 lakh for final extension; (3) fixed timelines (3 years initial + 2 years + 1 year maximum); (4) stricter documentation and vetting requirements; (5) automatic cancellation if project not completed within stipulated period. Applies to Model-I, PLL, CL-I, and BRL (Brewery) licenses, excluding Winery and Microbrewery.

KEY PROVISIONS

A. APPLICABILITY & LICENSE TYPES

• Applicable License Types:

  • নমুना-I (Model-I / Sample-I)
  • PLL (Pegged Liquor License)
  • CL-I (Country Liquor Class-I) — excluding Toddy/Malt liquor (मळीव्यतितरक्ि)
  • BRL (Brewery License) — excluding Winery and Microbrewery (वाईनरी व मायक्रोब्रुअरी वगळून)

• Exclusions: Winery licenses and Microbrewery licenses are NOT subject to this procedure

B. MANDATORY INTENT LETTER (IRADAPATRA) STAGE

अ) Primary Requirement:

• Before granting final manufacturing license (नमुना-I/पीएलएल/सीएल-1/बीआरएल), the applicant MUST first obtain a formal Intent Letter (प्रथम शाश्विी म्हणून इरादापत्र) from the Government
• Intent Letter is a prerequisite to final license issuance
• Intent Letter is NON-TRANSFERABLE without prior Government permission (except as detailed below)

C. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WITH INTENT LETTER APPLICATION

आ) Mandatory Enclosures (सादर करणे आवश्यक कागदपत्रे):

1. Land Ownership/Lease Documentation:

   • Proof of ownership (if land is applicant's own property), OR
   • Registered lease deed (if land is leased/rented)

2. Environmental Clearance:

   • Consent to Establish (CTE) certificate from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (महाराष्ट्र प्रदुर्षण तनयंत्रण मंडळ)

3. Company Registration:

   • Certificate of registration/incorporation extract from Company Registrar (if private company) OR partnership registration certificate (if partnership firm)

4. Management Details & Memorandum:

   • If Applicant is Private Company: Copy of Memorandum & Articles of Association (मेमोरॅन्डम एन्ड आटीकल्स ऑफ असोतसएशन)
   • If Applicant is Partnership Firm: Copy of registered partnership deed (नोंदणीकृ ि भागीदारी पत्र)
   • Complete details of all Directors/Partners: Full name, age, postal address, PAN card number, etc.

5. Income-Tax / Sales-Tax Clearance:

   • If applicant has prior business history:
     • Certificate / Affidavit / Self-Declaration from Income Tax Department / Sales Tax Department certifying NO OUTSTANDING ARREARS (थकबाकी नसल्याबाबि प्रमाणपत्र / प्रतिज्ञापत्र / स्वयंघोर्षणापत्र)

6. Character Verification Report:

   • Background/Character verification report for all Directors/Partners
   • Exception: NOT required for Cooperative Societies/Institutions (सहकारी संस्था वगळून)

D. TIMELINE & VALIDITY PERIOD

इ) Initial Intent Letter Period:

• Total Construction Period: 3 years (तीन वर्ष)
• Applicant must complete 100% project construction within this 3-year window
• Only after 100% construction AND fulfillment of all other requirements can the final license be issued

E. EXTENSION PROVISIONS & FEES

ई) First Extension:

• If project NOT completed within initial 3 years, applicant may apply for extension
• Fee for First Extension: ₹3,00,000 (तीन लाख रुपये)
• Extension Period Granted: 2 additional years (2 वर्षांची मुदिवाढ)
• Must be applied at least 2 months BEFORE the initial 3-year period expires (मुदि संपण्यापूवी 2 मतहन्याच्या आि सादर करणे बंधनकारक)

Final/Ultimate Extension:

• If project still NOT completed after 2-year first extension (i.e., after total 5 years), applicant may apply for FINAL extension
• Fee for Final Extension: ₹5,00,000 (पाच लाख रुपये)
• Final Extension Period Granted: 1 additional year ONLY (1 वर्षाची अंतिम मुदिवाढ)
• Total Maximum Period: 3 years (initial) + 2 years (first extension) + 1 year (final extension) = 6 years maximum

Application Deadline for Each Extension:

• Extension application MUST be submitted minimum 2 months before expiry of current period (प्रत्येक मुदिवाढी संदभािील अजय घटकाने, मुदि संपण्यापूवी 2 मतहन्याच्या आि सादर करणे बंधनकारक)

F. AUTOMATIC CANCELLATION

उ) Automatic Revocation (आपोआप रद्द):

• If project NOT completed within:
  • Initial 3 years + First extension (2 years) + Final extension (1 year) = Total 6 years, OR
  • If after final extension, project still incomplete
• The Intent Letter shall AUTOMATICALLY STAND CANCELLED (आपोआप र� समजण्याि येईल)
• NO further extension shall be granted
• Applicant loses all rights under the Intent Letter

G. TRANSFER OF INTENT LETTER

ऊ) Transfer to Another Entity:

• If Intent Letter holder wishes to transfer it to another entity/applicant:
  • Prior Written Permission from Government is MANDATORY (शासनाची पूवयमंजूरी आवश्यक)
  • Transfer Fee: ₹2,00,000 (दोन लाख रुपये)
  • Transfer is NOT automatic; separate approval required for each transfer

H. FINAL LICENSE ISSUANCE CONDITIONS

ऐ) Prerequisites for Final License Grant: The applicant shall be granted final manufacturing license (नमुना-I/पीएलएल/सीएल-1/बीआरएल) ONLY WHEN:

• Project construction is 100% COMPLETE (100% उभारणी), AND
• All other requirements are fulfilled (आवश्यक त्या सवय बाबींची पुियिा)
• Intent Letter issued on proper timeline is submitted

I. MISUSE & PENALTIES

ए) Strict Action for Misuse:

• If the Intent Letter is found to be misused or used for unauthorized purposes:
  • Stringent action shall be taken (कडक कारवाई करण्याि येईल)
  • Action may include cancellation, prosecution, or other penalties as per law

FEE SCHEDULE

SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ALREADY-ISSUED INTENT LETTERS

Clause 2: Projects Issued Intent Letter Between October 2016 — November 2021

Applicability:

• Projects/entities that received intent letter AFTER October 2016 BUT BEFORE this GR (i.e., between Oct 2016 and Nov 2021)

Treatment:

• Such projects are entitled to extensions UP TO MAXIMUM 6 YEARS from the date of their original intent letter issuance, as required case-by-case (प्रकरणपरत्वे, आवश्यकिेनुसार)
• After expiry of this 6-year period, any fresh extension application shall be treated as NEW application
• New fee structure as per this GR shall apply (नवीन समजून या शासन तनणययानुसार िरिूदी व शुल्क लागू राहील)

Clause 3: Projects Issued Intent Letter UP TO September 2016

Applicability:

• Projects/entities that received intent letter ON OR BEFORE September 2016

Treatment:

• These entities have the option to either:
  • Continue under old rules, OR
  • Apply for further extension under this new GR, paying fees as prescribed herein (या शासन तनणययािील िरिूदीनुसार शुल्क भरुन मुदिवाढीचे अजय सादर करण्याची मुभा)

REVENUE ACCOUNT HEAD FOR FEE DEPOSIT

Clause 4: Fund Deposit Instructions:

All fees collected under this GR shall be deposited under the following revenue head:

Major Head:  0039 — State Excise (राज्य उत्पादन शुल्क)
Sub-Head:    800 — Other Deposits (इिर जमा रकमा)
             (00) — (01) Other Deposits (इिर जमा रकमा) [00390101]

PUBLICATION & REFERENCE

Clause 5: Official Publication:

• This GR has been uploaded on: www.maharashtra.gov.in
• Reference Number (Sanketank): 202111081523000229
• Authentication: Digitally signed (तडतजटल स्वाक्षरीने स्वाक्षांतकि)

WHO IS AFFECTED

Direct Applicants:

1. Model-I (नमुना-I) License applicants — Breweries, Distilleries, Wineries (except as excluded), Microbreweries (except as excluded)
2. PLL (Pegged Liquor License) applicants — Large-scale foreign liquor manufacturing/bottling
3. CL-I (Country Liquor Class-I) applicants — Large-scale country spirit manufacturing (EXCLUDING Toddy/Malt liquor)
4. BRL (Brewery License) applicants — Beer and other fermented beverage manufacturers (EXCLUDING Winery and Microbrewery)

NOT Affected:

• Winery applicants (वाईनरी) — excluded explicitly
• Microbrewery applicants (मायक्रोब्रुअरी) — excluded explicitly
• Toddy/Malt liquor retailers (CL-III, CL-II) — not covered
• Existing licensed retailers (FL-I, FL-II, FL-III, FL-IV, CL-II, CL-III) — not affected unless applying for manufacturing expansion

IMPORTANT NOTES, CONDITIONS & PENALTIES

1. Mandatory 2-Month Advance Notice

• Applicant MUST file extension application at minimum 2 months BEFORE current period expiry
• Failure to do so may result in automatic cancellation without further notice

2. Project Must Be 100% Complete

• Partial construction or incomplete facilities do NOT satisfy the condition
• Government may verify on-site to confirm completion

3. Automatic Cancellation Clause

• After 6-year maximum period (3+2+1 years), if project not completed:
  • Intent Letter automatically stands cancelled
  • No appeal or review possible
  • Applicant must re-apply from scratch if they wish to proceed

4. Transfer Restrictions

• Intent Letter CANNOT be transferred without explicit Government permission
• Even with permission, a transfer fee of ₹2 lakh applies
• Transfer does NOT alter the timeline — the original deadline remains

5. Misuse Is Criminal Offense

• Using Intent Letter for unauthorized construction, diversion, or other non-approved activities is a serious violation
• Punishable under the Bombay Prohibition Act 1949 and cognizable under IPC

6. No Refund of Fees

• Fees paid for Intent Letter or extensions are non-refundable
• Even if final license is not granted, fees do not get returned

7. Cooperative Societies Exception

• Background verification report for directors is waived for Cooperative Societies/Institutions (सहकारी संस्था वगळून)
• However, all other documentation requirements remain mandatory

8. Applicability of Old vs. New Rules

• Projects with Intent Letters issued Oct 2016 — Nov 2021: Transitional provision (6-year max from original date)
• Projects with Intent Letters issued up to Sept 2016: Can opt for old or new rules
• All NEW applications from Nov 8, 2021 onwards: Subject to this GR only

9. Consent to Establish (CTE) is Non-Negotiable

• MPCB's Consent to Establish is a mandatory precondition
• Without CTE, Intent Letter application shall be rejected
• CTE validity must extend throughout the proposed project timeline

10. Enforcement & Distribution

This GR has been distributed to:

• Chief Minister's Principal Secretary
• Deputy Chief Minister's Office
• Minister of State (Excise)
• Principal Secretary (Excise/RAUSHU)
• Commissioner of State Excise, Maharashtra
• All District Collectors
• All Departmental Deputy Commissioners (Excise)
• All Superintendents of State Excise (all districts)
• Parliament members and State Legislature members (for information)

STATUTORY REFERENCES CITED

1. Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 (महाराष्ट्र दारुबंदी कायदा, 1949)
2. Maharashtra Distilleries & Fermented Beverages Manufacturing Rules, 1966 (महाराष्ट्र मद्याकय आसवन आतण पेय मद्य तनर्ममिी तनयम, 1966)
3. Government Resolution No. BPA-1102/CR-10/EXC-3, dated 10.7.2003 — Policy on Model-I and PLL licenses
4. Maharashtra Country Liquor Rules, 1973 (महाराष्ट्र देशी दारु तनयम, 1973) — Policy on CL-I licenses

SIGNATURE & AUTHORITY

Issued By:

• Yuvraj B. Ajerao
• Deputy Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
• On the Authority & In the Name of: Governor of Maharashtra (महाराष्ट्राचे राज्यपाल यांच्या आदेशानूसार व नावाने)

Document Attestation:

• Digitally signed
• Uploaded on official Maharashtra government portal: www.maharashtra.gov.in
• Portal Reference: 202111081523000229

KEY DIFFERENCES FROM PREVIOUS PRACTICE

CONCLUSION

This Government Resolution fundamentally reforms the Intent Letter system under Maharashtra Excise law by converting it from a free, indefinite, and non-binding document into a time-bound, fee-based, enforceable contract. It ensures project completion within 6 years maximum and introduces revenue generation of ₹2-5 lakh per project. All applicants seeking Model-I, PLL, CL-I (non-toddy), or BRL (non-winery/microbrewery) licenses must now obtain and strictly comply with Intent Letter timelines and conditions before final license issuance.