Merc raid leads cops to booze worth Rs 50 lakh

NEW DELHI: The police on Thursday seized illicit liquor worth Rs 50 lakh and arrested two men involved in smuggling of imported alcohol.

NEW DELHI: The police on Thursday seized illicit liquor worth Rs 50 lakh and arrested two men involved in smuggling of imported alcohol.

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Acting on a tip-off, a police team intercepted a Mercedes car near RK Puram. “Following inputs in an investigation, we seized 33 bottles of imported liquor worth Rs 4 lakh from the car,” said DCP (south) Ishwar Singh.

Mukesh Dhingra, who was driving the car, was detained for questioning. He told the police that he had procured the alcohol from the godown of one Narender Kumar Sharma.

“The godown, in RK Puram, was raided and 1,207 more bottles of imported whisky, wine, vodka and beer were recovered,” DCP Singh said. The value of the seized liquor is Rs 50 lakh. Rs 15.5 lakh was also recovered in cash.

Dhigra told the police that he and Sharma had been smuggling imported liquor for the last three years.

“Income tax authorities have been informed about recovery of large amount of cash from him. Two days police remand has been obtained from the court,” Singh said.