Pune: State Excise Department Busts Liquor Theft Racket; Two Tankers Seized, ₹1.19 Crore Worth Material Confiscated
Pune: State Excise Department Busts Liquor Theft Racket; Two Tankers Seized, ₹1.19 Crore Worth Material Confiscated
Pune, November 28, 2025: The Maharashtra State Excise Department’s Pune Divisional Flying Squad carried out a major operation against spirit theft and smuggling using tankers, seizing material worth ₹1,19,04,500 along with two tankers. The action took place on November 25, 2025, in an open area behind Hotel Chaudhari Palace, Rajasthani Pure Veg, located on the Satara–Pune Highway in Nigade village, Bhor taluka.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Commissioner Rajesh Deshmukh, Joint Commissioner (Enforcement & Investigation) Prasad Surve, and Divisional Deputy Commissioner Sagar Dhomkar. Acting on reliable information, the squad laid a trap and intercepted two suspicious Ashok Leyland 16-wheeler tankers — MH-12 YB-9186 containing 39,800 litres of spirit and MH-12 UM-9887 also carrying 39,800 litres. Both tankers had stopped at the location, and the drivers had begun siphoning off spirit using plastic pipes. As the team moved in for the raid, the accused escaped under the cover of darkness.
The squad seized two 200-litre drums containing 180 litres of spirit each, a 35-litre can with 35 litres of spirit, a 20-litre plastic bucket with 20 litres of spirit, along with empty drums, cans, pipes, funnels, tongs and other equipment—valued at ₹79,600. Including the tankers and spirit, the total seizure amounted to ₹1,19,04,500.
A case has been registered under Sections 65(A)(E), 67, 81, 83, 90 and 103 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, through Crime Register No. 529/2025, against both tanker drivers, the tanker owners, the concerned distillery manager and other known/unknown suspects. A search for the accused is underway.
Officers who participated in the operation include Inspector Narendra Thorat, Sub-Inspectors Biraj Mane, Dhiraj Saste, N.G. Nikam, and personnel Satish Pandhe, Rutik Kolpe, Shashikant Bhat, Ranjit Chavan, Sandeep Surve, Madhav Made and Rahul Taralkar. Drivers Shashikant Zhingale and Amol Dalvi also assisted. Inspector Narendra Thorat is currently conducting further investigation.
