Mumbai police seize illicit liquor, raw material worth ₹14 lakh

Mumbai city news: Raid was carried out Thane crime branch officers in early hours of Thursday at t Mothi Desai village

The Thane crime branch officers seized 92,000 litres of illicit liquor and raw material worth Rs14 lakh during a raid in Shildaighar, Thane, on Thursday morning. The police booked six people for running an illicit liquor business for the past two months. They police also seized a wooden plank, mixing tubs, drums and raw material for making liquor. All the accused are on the run

The illicit liquor seized on Thursday by Thane crime branch. (Praful Gangurde)

The raid carried out in the early hours at Mothi Desai village. All six were identified and booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code by the Shildaighar police.

Assistant police inspector A Kurhade from Thane crime branch (unit 1) said, “The accused were on the run for the past two months. This was our fifth raid in the same village. The villagers were helping the accused to run the business and we’ll be meeting them soon. We hope this meeting helps us curb illicit liquor business in the area, as the villagers seem reluctant despite knowing that the business was illegal.”

Officers said they saw smoke bellowing near a river upon reaching the village .

“The drums were buried in the mud. We got a tip-off about the illicit liquor in the morning itself after which a team was formed and raided the spot. The six people are from nearby area only and we are in search of them,” said inspector Ranveer Bayes from Thane crime branch (unit 1).