Three arrested after fake liquor worth Rs 2.82 lakh found in farm at Tho near Washim

The flying squad of the State Excise department received information that counterfeit country and foreign liquor was being illegally transported and stored in Washim taluka. Acting on it, the squad ran an inspection drive on Tuesday. Based on confidential information, a trap was laid on the Adoli-Kumbharkhed road and at a farm in Tho (taluka and district Washim).

In the action, the squad recovered 20 boxes of country and foreign liquor. Goods worth Rs 2,82,610 were seized, including the boxes.

The squad also recorded what exactly was found. It recovered 329 bottles of Royal Stag whisky of 180 ml each, and 138 fake sealed bottles of Imperial Blue whisky of 180 ml each. It also found a stock of 1,000 bottles of 90 ml counterfeit country liquor, Bhingari Santra.

In this case, Vaibhav Baban Kakade (27), Amol Pralhad Kakade (26) and Ravi Manik Kakade (31) were arrested. All three are residents of Tho (taluka and district Washim).

The three were produced before a Judicial Magistrate First Class, and the court granted them police custody (PCR) until Friday.

The action was carried out under the guidance of State Excise Commissioner Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, Joint Commissioner Prasad Surve, Amravati division Deputy Commissioner Dr Parag Navalkar and Washim in-charge Superintendent Seema Zaware.

Flying squad inspectors M. K. Uike and M. S. Jadhav and sub-inspector R. P. Manwar took part in the action. Nivrutti Tidke, Nitin Chipde, Swapnil Lande, Vishnu Maske, Balu Waghmare, Gopal Ingle, Ganesh Nanote, Nikesh Ghule, Vaishnavi Sarghode and driver Ganesh Sapkal also took part.

Inspector Madhukar Uike is conducting further investigation. How and for whom the fake liquor was hidden in the farm will become clear from the next stage of the probe.