Maharashtra Excise seizes Rs 1.82-crore Indian-made foreign liquor in Navi Mumbai, one arrested

Representational Image. File Pic

In a major breakthrough, the Maharashtra Excise Department seized Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) worth more than Rs 1.82 crore in Navi Mumbai on Monday, news agency PTI reported.

Thane Superintendent of State Excise Pravin Tambe said, "Based on a tip-off, a special patrolling operation was conducted on Mahape to Thane Road in Navi Mumbai on December 15, during which 1,550 boxes of Goa-made IMFL were seized from a vehicle."

While briefing about the operation, he also highlighted that the vehicle's driver, identified as Bhagirathram Hiraram Godara, has been arrested, PTI reported.

"The operation was carried out as part of a special enforcement drive undertaken by the department ahead of Christmas and New Year," Tambe said.

Illegal liquor worth Rs 20.65 lakh seized in Palghar

Police have seized Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), valued at Rs 20.65 lakh, being transported illegally, and arrested three persons in Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials said on Tuesday.

During routine surveillance earlier in November, a tempo was intercepted based on suspicion on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway, Naigaon Police Station's Senior Inspector Sanjay Hazare said.

"On inspection, we found it was transporting a large stock of IMFL without any valid permits. The liquor was being smuggled out of Maharashtra and headed towards Gujarat, where prohibition is in force," he said.

Furthermore, the police seized the contraband and arrested Aziz Usman Dela (63), a transporter from Kashimira in the neighbouring Thane district; driver Nayeem Rafiq Bhai Payak (23); and Raju Lakhabhai Dudhwa (35), both from Bhavnagar in Gujarat, the official said. However, an FIR was registered against them under the Prohibition Act, PTI reported.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Ajit Pawar had earlier announced that shops selling IMFL or country liquor must secure mandatory consent from registered housing societies before operating from commercial spaces within their premises. Pawar, who heads the excise department, has directed that the policy be enforced statewide.

"Permission from registered housing societies will now be compulsory for both categories of liquor shops. The policy must be enforced uniformly throughout Maharashtra," Pawar told the Lower House of the state legislature while responding to a question raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Shankar Jagtap, who represents the Chinchwad Assembly Constituency in Pune District.

(With PTI inputs)