48,000 bottles of Goa liquor hidden in soap boxes seized at Airoli, one arrested

The Konkan divisional flying squad of the State Excise Department has taken major action against illegal transport of liquor from another state into Maharashtra. A 12-wheeler truck was intercepted after a trap was laid on Belapur-Thane Road, opposite Airoli railway station. The truck was carrying 48,000 bottles of Goa-made liquor that is banned for sale in Maharashtra. The liquor and the truck together, worth Rs 1.30 crore 60 thousand (Rs 1,30,60,000), were seized, and one youth has been arrested in the case.

The squad had received a tip-off that illegal liquor from another state would be moved along Belapur-Thane Road. Acting on it, the squad, under the guidance of Inspector Digambar Shewale, kept watch opposite Airoli railway station. After some time, a chocolate-and-white Tata 12-wheeler truck, registration number MH-10-AW-5294, was seen approaching in a suspicious manner. Officials stopped the truck and questioned the driver.

Asked about the load, the driver said the truck was carrying boxes of soap. Suspicious, the officials searched the vehicle thoroughly. They found a large number of khaki-coloured boxes in the truck. When the boxes were opened, they held bottles of liquor instead of soap. These were 180 ml bottles of "Royal Blue Malt Whisky" made in Goa. The excise department said the sale of this liquor is banned in Maharashtra.

The search turned up 1,000 boxes in all, holding 48,000 bottles. The investigation also found that the seized bottles did not carry a batch number or the maximum retail price (MRP). The department has seized the entire stock of liquor and the truck used to transport it. According to the department, the total value of the seized goods is Rs 1.30 crore 60 thousand.

Javedkhan Nawabkhan Pinjari, 24, a resident of Gadhaddev (post Boradi) in Shirpur taluka of Dhule district, has been arrested. A case has been registered against him under Sections 65(a), 65(e), 80, 81, 83, 90 and 103 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949. Further investigation is expected to reveal who else was involved in transporting the liquor, where it was sourced and where it was to be delivered.

The action was taken on the directions of State Excise Commissioner Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, Joint Commissioner Prasad Surve, Konkan divisional Deputy Commissioner Pradip Pawar and Thane-1 Superintendent Pravin Tambe. Inspector Digambar Shewale, Sub-Inspectors H. B. Yadav and V. V. Sakpal, and constables A. P. Rathod, Harshal Kharabas, Hanumant Gadhave and Amol Sanap took part in the operation.

Sub-Inspector H. B. Yadav is conducting the further investigation. The seizure of such a large quantity of liquor being moved in the name of soap boxes has added to the seriousness of the case. Tracing the others involved in the illegal transport and examining the liquor supply chain will now be important.