In a series of seizures across Maharashtra, the excise department has nabbed smuggled liquor worth over Rs 1.50 crore. The liquor, much of which consists of premium brands and illegal imports from Goa, Haryana and Punjab, was meant for consumption during Christmas and New Year.
The department also seized one of the largest consignments of fake caps and labels of premium brands, which were to be used for counterfeiting high-end brands. Liquor is cheaper in bordering states and union territories like Goa, Daman and Silvassa and is hence smuggled into Maharashtra.
A senior excise official said they had seized 899 boxes of liquor worth Rs 70 lakh from a container on Nashik-Pune highway. The brew was meant for sale in Punjab. They also caught 400 boxes of liquor worth Rs 20.02 lakh from a vehicle on Goa border; 610 boxes at Kolhapur and another raid at Sawantwadi resulted in a haul of liquor worth Rs 26.68 lakh.
The driver and cleaner of a milk van, which supplies milk to Goa, were also caught in Kolhapur while smuggling liquor worth Rs 9.60 lakh. "It seems liquor is being stockpiled by bootleggers for Christmas and New Year revelries. It was original but duty-evaded liquor," said the official.
Excise officials said they had unearthed 1,057 fake corks of premium brands like Red Label, Blue Label, Grey Goose Vokda, Glenfiddich, Black and White and Teachers, worth Rs 300 each at Vakola. The official said there was a possibility that these caps were manufactured in China and brought to Mumbai via Delhi. Similarly, 585 fake labels of Glenfiddich, Chivas Regal, Glenfiddich Green and Chivas Regal were also seized. The total value of the entire seizure, including caps and labels, is Rs 8.71 lakh.
Consumption in figures
In 2013-14, IMFL consumption rose by 7.84% to end at 1,615.06 lakh bulk litres (BL) in 2013-14 vs 1,497.62 lakh BL in 2012-13. The sales of beer have however headed south at just 2,986.09 lakh BL in 2013-14 down from 3,169.34 lakh BL in the previous fiscal (-5.78%). Country liquor (CL) too fell to 3,210.97 lakh BL from 3382.99 lakh BL (-5.08%). Wine consumption rose by 9.71% to end at 50.56 lakh BL from the previous 46.08 lakh BL.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}