It is settled law that penal statutes require strict interpretation. In order to make out an offence under Section 58A of the Abkari Act, the necessary ingredient is that the person/accused must be engaged in selling any preparation which he knows or has reason to believe is intended to serve as a substitute for alcohol or intoxicating drug. In the facts of the present case, as narrated above, it is clear that while the petitioners were apprehended, they had in their possession several Arishtams and Asavams, which they were carrying in a bag. The statements of the witnesses forming part of the final report tend to support the case of the petitioners that, while they were bringing Arishtams and Asavams after purchasing the same from a licensed manufacturer in their Car, the Car broke down and the autorikshaw that came for the purposes of carrying the goods to their shop, had refused to carry the same. It is thus that the 1st petitioner had gone to his house to get his motor cycle. The statement of the workshop owner also indicates that the petitioners had contacted him stating that