Pune: State Excise Department Busts Major Liquor Smuggling Operation; Over Rs 1 Crore Worth Seized
Pune, 28th November 2025: In a significant anti-smuggling operation, the State Excise Department’s Flying Squad in Pune seized liquor valued at Rs 1.19 crore along with two tankers on the Satara–Pune highway near Hotel Chaudhary Palace, Nigde village, Bhore Taluka.
The operation, conducted on November 25, 2025, was carried out under the guidance of Commissioner Rajesh Deshmukh, Deputy Commissioner (Ops) Prasad Surve, and Deputy Excise Commissioner Sagar Dhomkar. Based on actionable intelligence, the team intercepted two Ashok Leyland 16-wheeler tankers—MH-12 YB-9186 and MH-12 UM-9887—suspected of transporting illicit liquor. The drivers were allegedly siphoning liquor using plastic pipes when the squad conducted the raid. The accused managed to escape under cover of darkness.
Seized Items
Two 200-litre drums (180 litres each)
Three 35-litre cans (35 litres total)
One 20-litre plastic bucket (20 litres)
Empty drums, cans, pipes, funnels, and related equipment
The total value of the recovered items stands at Rs 1,19,04,500.
A case has been registered under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949 (Sections 65(a)(e), 67, 81, 83, 90, and 103) against the tanker drivers, the tanker owner, the distillery manager, and other unknown persons. Searches are ongoing to apprehend the accused.
The operation involved Inspector Narendra Thorat, Sub-Inspectors Biraj Mane and Dheeraj Saste, NG Nikam, and constables Satish Pandhe, Rutik Kolpe, Shashikant Bhat, Ranjit Chavan, Sandeep Surve, Madhav Made, and Rahul Taralkar. Further investigation is being led by Inspector Narendra Thorat.
