Kalahandi: In a major crackdown on illicit liquor trade, Excise Department sleuths of Kalahandi district busted a fake liquor racket, arresting two individuals and seizing a large consignment of spurious liquor.
Acting on inputs, a joint team from Junagarh and Dharmagarh Excise officials conducted raids in Junagarh, confiscating 33 litres of fake foreign liquor, 988 liquor bottle caps, 924 fake stickers, and 73 empty foreign liquor bottles. The excise team arrested Santosh Pattnaik, who was allegedly selling fake liquor in the area.
In a separate operation, Rinku Mangaraj was apprehended in Dharmagarh with 19 empty bottles, 1333 caps, and 1000 fake stickers.
The accused have been booked under relevant sections and produced before the court.
