An alleged liquor smuggler was arrested in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, and items with an estimated cost of Rs 9.81 lakh have been seized from him, a police official said on Thursday.
While briefing about the incident, Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh said that the accused was held in possession of Daman-manufactured liquor on October 28 under Manor police station limits by a local crime branch team after being notified.
Deshmukh said, “A pick-up van was stopped on Manor-Vikarmgad road and searched. Liquor worth Rs 2.81 lakh and the vehicle costing Rs 7 lakh were seized. Driver Manoj Parmeshwar Tripathi (48) has been arrested,” as cited by PTI.
A case has been filed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Prohibition Act and an additional probe into the liquor smuggling network is in progress, he added.
Two booked for smuggling liquor hidden inside motorcycles
In a separate incident, Gadchiroli police in Maharashtra have seized illegal country liquor and two motorcycles collectively worth Rs 2.32 lakh and booked two men in connection with the case. The liquor was allegedly concealed inside the fuel tanks and seats of the two-wheelers and was discovered during a checkpoint operation near the Wainganga River on the Gadchiroli-Chandrapur road on October 19.
The action was carried out after police received a tip-off about the alleged illegal transportation of liquor. According to the police, the accused had modified the motorcycles to conceal the liquor and transport it without a permit.
Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police M Ramesh said round-the-clock barricading was being carried out along the district’s borders to curb illegal activities. He has directed police personnel to take legal action against those involved in the illegal sale and transportation of liquor.
Liquor concealed inside motorcycle fuel tanks and seats
According to the police, a team from Gadchiroli police station was conducting a checkpoint operation near the Wainganga River on the Gadchiroli-Chandrapur road when it received information that Tanaji Nanaji Pendorakar, 32, was allegedly transporting illegal liquor on a motorcycle.
During the operation, police personnel spotted two men approaching Gadchiroli at high speed on separate motorcycles. The team signalled them to stop and questioned them about their identities.
The men were identified as Pendorakar and Saurabh Prakash Mahajanwar, 19. Both are residents of Vyahad (Budruk) in Sawali taluka of Chandrapur district.
