Pune: Excise Dept Seizes 1,200 Boxes of Whisky, Truck Worth Rs 1.35 Crore
Pune, 11th June 2026: The State Excise Department has seized liquor worth over Rs 1.2 crore and a vehicle valued at Rs 15 lakh in a major operation on the Pune-Mumbai highway, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 1.35 crore, officials said on Thursday.
The seizure was made after excise officials intercepted and inspected a container truck at Sutarwadi in Haveli taluka along the Pune-Mumbai highway. During the search, officials found 1,200 boxes of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) branded as “Royal Select Deluxe Whisky”.
According to the department, the liquor had been manufactured in Goa but was allegedly being transported using counterfeit labels indicating that it had been manufactured and authorised for sale in Madhya Pradesh. Officials seized 10,368 bulk litres of liquor packed in 180 ml bottles.
During questioning, the driver failed to produce a valid transport permit for carrying the consignment. Investigators also found allegedly forged documents, including fake tax invoices and paperwork related to the transportation of empty cartons. Preliminary inquiries indicated that the documents submitted for transportation were suspicious and possibly fabricated.
The truck driver has been arrested and booked under relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949. Samples of the seized liquor have been sent for chemical analysis to determine whether the stock was counterfeit, officials said.
State Excise Superintendent Atul Kanade said the action was carried out under the directions of Excise Commissioner Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, Joint Commissioner (Enforcement and Vigilance) Prasad Surve and Pune Divisional Deputy Commissioner Sagar Dhomkar.
The operation was led by Excise Inspector Sandeep Kadam and his team.
Appealing to citizens to stay away from illicit liquor, Kanade urged the public to share information about illegal liquor manufacturing or smuggling activities with the department through its toll-free helpline or local offices.
