Balasore: In a significant crackdown ahead of the Durga Puja festivities, Nilgiri excise officers arrested a man involved in the sale of spurious liquor bearing counterfeit brand labels at Badapokhri village in Balasore district on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Manoj Behera (33), a resident of Badapokhri, was caught during a joint patrolling operation by the Nilgiri and Khaira excise teams.
According to Nilgiri Excise Inspector Keshab Chandra Das, Superintendent of Excise Manoj Kumar Sethi had issued instructions to intensify vigilance, anticipating an increase in the circulation of duplicate and illicit liquor during the festive season.
During the operation, officers stopped and searched a Tata Indigo eCS vehicle near Badapokhri village. The search led to the seizure of 100 liters of spirit, 200 bottles of spurious foreign liquor, 120 empty bottles, 144 counterfeit labels, and 120 bottle caps.
Inspector Das stated that the investigation is ongoing to uncover the source of the illicit liquor, its distribution network, and other individuals involved in the supply chain.
