The state excise department has fallen upon a new method bootleggers are employing to palm off hooch. On December 24, the officials under director Prasad Surve’s supervision laid a trap in a hotel at Govandi and arrested a man called Shravan Purohit under section 73 and 74 of the Bombay Prohibition Act, after he circulated a Whatsapp message proclaiming to sell exceptionally cheap branded liquor, claiming it was duty free. The department seized 11 bottles of spurious scotch whisky and a four-wheeler worth around Rs 3,45,930 from him. The accused was also involved in selling the liquor on social media.

Fancy label, fake liquor: The excise team with the seized bottles