Major Liquor Haul: Seizure of Rs 82 Lakhs Worth of Goa-Manufactured Liquor in Pune
Sumit Singh
Pune, 19th December 2023: In a targeted operation aligned with the festive season, the State Excise Department’s Divisional Flying Squad in Pune, successfully intercepted and seized a significant quantity of illegal liquor being trafficked from Goa to Maharashtra. Acting on reliable information, the team, under the guidance of Divisional Deputy Commissioner Vijay Chinchalkar, conducted a raid on the night of December 18 (Monday).
The operation focused on a specific tempo, which was expected to transport Goa-manufactured foreign liquor into Maharashtra via the Bangalore-Mumbai National Highway. The team strategically monitored the vehicle near the Khed Shivapur toll plaza on the Highway.
Upon intercepting the vehicle at the toll plaza in the early hours of Tuesday, the driver claimed that the cargo consisted of drugs and presented documents like a drug bill, tax invoice etc. However, upon further inspection prompted by reliable information, the team discovered 950 boxes containing 45,600 sealed bottles of 180 ml of Royal Blue Malt Visco whiskey, manufactured by Pigott Chapman and Company in Bardez, Goa.
The driver, identified as Vipul Devilal Nat from Banswara, Rajasthan, was found to be transporting the liquor without the necessary transport pass or license. Acting with fraudulent intent to sell the foreign liquor in Maharashtra, the driver was promptly arrested under the Maharashtra Liquor Prohibition Act 1949. The confiscated liquor, valued at Rs 82,08,000, and the tempo, valued at Rs 11,50,000, were seized on the spot, totaling Rs 93,59,500.
The accused was produced before a judicial magistrate court which remanded him to two days custody.
The successful operation was executed by the State Excise Department’s Divisional Flying Squad, led by Inspector Nand Kumar Jadhav and Sub Inspector AC Phadtare. The team members, including jawans Amar Kamble, Ahmed Sheikh, SS Pondhe, Anil Thorat, PT Kadam, Bharat Nemade, played crucial roles in the raid. Sub-inspector AB Patil will continue the investigation into the case.
