LIQUOR WORTH RS 1 CRORE SEIZED WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED FROM CHANDIGARH TO GUJARAT

Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

In a crackdown on interstate liquor smuggling, Hanumangarh police seized 530 cartons of India Made Foreign Liquor late last night; the consignment was being transported in a truck from Chandigarh to Gujarat, concealed beneath foam mattresses. The market value of the seized liquor is estimated at approximately Rs 1 crore. Arrested suspects had been released on bail only a few months ago in similar cases.

Superintendent of Police B. Adithya said that there was a tip off from ASI Praveen Kumar (Gogamedi Police Station) and Constable Surendra Khichad (AGTF) regarding a suspicious truck loaded with liquor heading towards Bhadra. Under the leadership of Bhadra Police Inspector Radhey Shyam, ASI Sumer Singh and his team intercepted and searched the truck near Canal Colony. Inside, they discovered 530 cartons of ‘Royal Challenge’ and ‘All Seasons’ brand English liquor, totalling 25,440 bottles.

The suspects, Dalip alias Deepu and Vikram, residents of Nethrana, were arrested. Both individuals have previously served jail time for liquor smuggling. Dalip (33) has a prior case of liquor smuggling registered against him at the Katvara Police Station in Gujarat; he had been released on bail just a few months ago. The second accused, Vikram (25), has a prior liquor smuggling case registered against him at the Rohat Police Station in Pali district; he, too, had been released on bail a few months earlier.

They were transporting liquor from Chandigarh to Gujarat, using foam mattresses as a cover. A case has been registered against them under the Rajasthan Excise Act.