Illegal Liquor During Ganesh Visarjan: Pune Excise Department Registers 64 Cases
Pune, 28th September 2026: The Maharashtra State Excise Department conducted a crackdown on illegal liquor sales and illicit liquor production in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and surrounding areas during the dry day observed on the occasion of Ganesh Visarjan. The department registered 64 cases and arrested 62 people in the action.
The action was carried out under the guidance of Pune Excise Division I Superintendent Atul Kanade and Division II Superintendent Ravikiran Kole.
The raids were conducted to prevent the illegal sale and transportation of liquor during Ganesh immersion processions. Officials seized various types of liquor, 3,100 litres of chemicals and six vehicles. The total value of the seized material was estimated at ₹14.31 lakh.
In Pune city, excise teams conducted raids in Market Yard, Swargate, Laxmi Nagar, Gultekdi, Paud Phata, Dhayari and Nanhe, among other areas. A total of 39 cases were registered and 38 people were arrested.
The teams seized 71 litres of country-made liquor, 151.47 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), 41.78 litres of foreign liquor, 24.65 litres of beer and eight litres of toddy. Five vehicles were also seized.
In Pimpri-Chinchwad and Maval, raids were conducted in Tathawade, Ramnagar, Balajinagar, Bhim Shakti Nagar, the Dighi bus stop area, Dongargaon and Sanaswadi. The department registered 25 cases and arrested 24 people.
The seized material included 180 litres of country-made liquor, 3,100 litres of chemicals, 219.37 bulk litres of country-made liquor, 19.58 bulk litres of foreign liquor and 70.67 bulk litres of beer. One four-wheeler was also seized.
Liquor sales were prohibited across Pune on Anant Chaturdashi in view of the Ganesh immersion processions. Special excise teams were deployed at crowded and sensitive locations to monitor illegal liquor sales, production and transportation.
