The excise police in Hyderabad have busted a major racket involved in selling adulterated liquor in expensive branded bottles. The gang allegedly sold cheap alcohol as premium liquor at nearly half the market price. Police arrested five accused and seized liquor and materials worth ₹8 lakh.
Liquor Worth ₹20,000 Sold for ₹10,000
Investigators revealed that the accused removed original liquor from premium brand bottles and refilled them with adulterated alcohol. The gang then sold these bottles to customers by offering heavy discounts.
According to officials, a bottle priced at ₹20,000 was being sold for just ₹10,000, raising suspicion among enforcement teams.
Racket Exposed During Vehicle Checks
The case came to light during routine vehicle checks on the Indiranagar route near the Gachibowli flyover. Excise officials stopped two men, Desini Prakash Goud and Gadwala Bharath, who were travelling on a scooty.
During inspection, officers found 15 expensive brand liquor bottles in their possession. Further examination confirmed that the bottles contained counterfeit liquor.
Five Accused Arrested, Large Quantity Seized
During questioning, the accused admitted that the operation was being run from the house of Prakash Goud’s younger brother, Arvind. Police took Arvind into custody and uncovered more details about the racket.
The investigation revealed the involvement of Buchidev Mahanti, a resident of Odisha, who allegedly manufactured the counterfeit liquor. Police also arrested Vikram, another partner in the operation.
Officials conducted raids and seized 139 counterfeit liquor bottles, 136 empty branded bottles, and a scooty used for transportation. The total value of seized items is estimated at ₹8 lakh.
Officials Praise DTF Team
Excise Superintendent Krishna Priya and Deputy Commissioner Dasharath appreciated the efforts of the DTF team involved in the operation. They said timely action helped prevent the sale of adulterated liquor to the public.
The accused and the seized liquor have been shifted to the Serilingampalli excise station for further investigation. Police said the probe is ongoing and more arrests may follow.
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