Kagal State Excise raided two illegal factories in Goa, sealing liquor and materials worth Rs 1.32 crore. The operation exposed an interstate spurious liquor racket using fake Maharashtra labels and dealt a major blow to smuggling networks.
Interstate spurious liquor racket exposed by excise department.
Against the backdrop of the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, as well as Republic Day 2026, the Kagal State Excise Department n Kolhapur has delivered a major blow to liquor smugglers, officials said.
According to the officials, raids were conducted on two illegal factories in Goa that were manufacturing country liquor using fake Maharashtra labels, exposing an interstate spurious liquor racket. In this operation, liquor and related materials worth approximately Rs 1.32 crore were sealed.
This is one of the largest and most significant actions taken to date by the Maharashtra State Excise Department against the fraudulent manufacture of the country liquor brand “Santra” in Goa.
For an in-depth investigation, Kagal Excise Inspector Shankar Amberkar personally visited Goa and conducted the probe. During the investigation, two companies involved in manufacturing labels, bottle caps, and boxes used for producing spurious liquor, as well as two companies, “Cans” and “Vijaya”, engaged in fake labelling and packaging for Maharashtra, were sealed with the permission of the State Excise Commissioner.
Conveyor belt used for making fake bottle caps for liquor
Additionally, a conveyor belt used for manufacturing bottle caps for liquor sent from Goa to Maharashtra, along with caps, labels, boxes, and other materials connected with the offence, was seized.
Notably, during investigations, direct entry into another state to seal factories is generally avoided. However, after completing all legal formalities, Inspector Amberkar carried out firm action by visiting Goa, due to which the case has also drawn the attention of the Goa-based media.
This operation is being regarded as the most decisive and effective action ever undertaken by the Kolhapur division. For the current financial year, the State Excise Department has set a revenue target of Rs 40,000 crore.
Considering that the liquor bearing fake Maharashtra labels was illegally brought into the state from Goa, the government would have suffered a revenue loss running into crores of rupees, according to official sources.
This action was carried out under the orders of State Excise Commissioner Rajesh Deshmukh and Kolhapur Divisional Deputy Commissioner Vijay Chinchalkar, under the guidance of Kolhapur District Superintendent Mrs Snehalata Narawane and Deputy Superintendent Yuvraj Shinde. The operation was executed by Kagal Inspector Shankar Amberkar with the cooperation of Inspector Pramod Kharat’s team.
Those who participated in the action include Sub-Inspector Ajitkumar Nayakude, Constable Sachin Kalel, Sub-Inspector Ramesh Chandure, Diwakar Waydande, Assistant Sub-Inspector Dinkar Gawali, Lakshman Yedge and Sandeep Jankar.
Further investigation in the case is being conducted by Inspector Shankar Amberkar. Due to this firm action by the State Excise Department, those involved in spurious liquor manufacturing and smuggling have received a major setback, and this investigation is expected to prove a milestone in controlling such illegal rackets.
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