In a major crackdown on illegal liquor smuggling, the Excise Department raided a house in the Chhola Mandir area, recovering 186 boxes of liquor valued at Rs 9.50 lakh.
The operation, led by Excise Sub-Inspector Ramesh Ahirwar under the supervision of Control Room Incharge Ramgopal Bhadauria, targeted a stock room illegally set up in a leased house.
Assistant Excise Commissioner Virendra Dhakad stated that the team acted on a tip-off about liquor smuggling in the area. During the raid, 50 empty boxes were also found, indicating that the smuggler, identified as Kalla, had already sold 50 boxes of liquor in the city. Kalla, a dominant figure in the area, fled upon learning of the raid and is currently being pursued by authorities.
In a separate incident, Khajuri Sadak police arrested Piyush Yadav, a resident of Ashbagh, while he was transporting 29 liters of illicit liquor into the city via Sehore. The liquor was recovered from his car during a routine search, and Yadav is now in custody as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, Berasia police intercepted a Scorpio vehicle near Khejra Jod, seizing 17 boxes of illegal liquor worth approximately Rs 70,000. The two occupants, Pankaj Sahu and Sachin Ahirwar, were arrested on the spot. The police are probing the source of the liquor and potential connections to larger smuggling networks.
These coordinated efforts by the Excise Department and local police highlight their commitment to curbing the illegal liquor trade in the region.
Authorities are intensifying searches for Kalla and other key figures involved in these operations, while further investigations aim to dismantle the supply chains fueling the illicit liquor market in Bhopal.