Maharashtra has one of the highest excise duty regimes in India.
Indicating that the smuggling of liquor into Maharashtra from northern states like Haryana is still underway, the state excise department has seized liquor worth Rs 32.32 lakh including grain-based whisky, vodka and beer from a container in Bhiwandi.
The booty, which consisted of 985 boxes of whisky and beer, including brands like Blenders Pride, Magic Moments vodka, Royal Stag, and Haywards 500 was seized from the vehicle on the Nashik-Mumbai highway. The driver, Bhushan Balwantsingh (32), a resident of Punjab has been arrested.
State excise officials said the seizure indicated that smuggling of liquor from states like Haryana and Punjab, which had seen a brief lull, could be on the rise again. With neighbouring Gujarat under prohibition, Maharashtra has also become a transit point for transporting liquor from northern states to the dry state.
The squad, which was guided by excise commissioner SD Shinde and director (vigilance) Prasad Surve, consisted of inspectors Mukund Bilolikar, Subhash Jadhav, sub-inspectors Digambar Shevale, Narayan Gosavi, Shankar Amberkar, Rajesh Sapkal and others.
Maharashtra has one of the highest excise duty regimes in India. With neighbouring Goa and Daman having liberal policies and keeping costs of liquor low, it is a huge incentive for smugglers and bootleggers to sneak the brew into Maharashtra.
State excise sources said tipplers in Maharashtra also preferred grain-based liquor manufactured in northern states like Punjab and Haryana as compared to the one made from molasses here.
In January, the department had seized smuggled liquor worth nearly Rs 2 crore at Dhule on Maharashtra-Gujarat border. The liquor bore markings of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana and officials said the consignment was in all likelihood headed for Gujarat.
){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}