Palghar, Maharashtra: The excise department has seized smuggled Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) valued at ₹10.35 lakh in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, stated an official.
Acting on a confidential tip-off regarding a large consignment of IMFL being smuggled into the district, the excise department maintained surveillance at several key locations on June 25 and 26. Ganesh Bargaje, Superintendent of State Excise, confirmed the successful operation.
"Our teams intercepted a tempo and two cars and found that they were carrying IMFL meant solely for sale in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and not in Maharashtra," Bargaje stated.
In addition to the liquor, the three vehicles used for smuggling, estimated to be worth ₹23 lakh, were also seized by the authorities.
Rasik Bhoye and Dinesh Nadge, both residents of Jawhar in Palghar district, were arrested in connection with the seizure. However, another man, who was driving one of the cars, managed to flee the scene, leaving his vehicle behind.
The arrested accused have been booked under the relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act. "We are now probing the source of the IMFL consignment and where it was heading," the official added, indicating that further investigations are underway to dismantle the larger smuggling network.
