Fake Foreign Liquor Racket Busted in Junnar and Parner; Stock Worth ₹11.55 Lakh Seized, Three Arrested

Pune, October 31, 2026: The Maharashtra State Excise Department has uncovered an alleged counterfeit foreign liquor racket operating across Pune and Ahilyanagar districts. During coordinated raids in Junnar and Parner talukas, officials seized suspected illegal liquor stock valued at ₹11,55,360 and arrested three individuals. The operation was conducted by the Narayangaon division of the State Excise Department following intelligence inputs about the storage and suspected sale of illegally manufactured or counterfeit liquor. According to excise officials, the raids were carried out on October 30 at Bangarwadi, within the Belhe village limits in Junnar taluka, and at Alkuti village in Parner taluka of Ahilyanagar district. First Raid Conducted in Junnar Acting on confidential information, an excise department team conducted a raid at Bangarwadi in the Belhe village area. Officials seized 5,136 liquor bottles with an estimated value of ₹4,27,200. The recovered stock included 5,040 bottles of GM Santra country liquor and 96 sealed bottles labelled as Royal Stag whisky. Two individuals were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Sachin Ganpat Gadge, 40, and Tahir Yusuf Sheikh, 43, both residents of Nimgaon Sava in Junnar taluka. Second Raid in Parner Leads to More Recoveries During questioning, information provided by the arrested individuals reportedly led investigators to another location in Alkuti village, in Parner taluka. The excise team subsequently conducted a second raid and recovered 3,120 bottles of suspected counterfeit foreign whisky, valued at ₹7,28,160. The seized stock included 1,392 bottles labelled Royal Stag whisky and 1,728 bottles labelled Imperial Blue whisky. Officials reported that the bottles carried suspected counterfeit caps and seals. A third individual, identified as Sagar Ramdas Borude, 27, a resident of Alkuti village, was arrested in connection with the recovery. Total Seizure Exceeds ₹11.55 Lakh The two operations resulted in the seizure of liquor stock worth a combined ₹11,55,360. The department said the action was part of an intensified enforcement drive against illegal liquor manufacturing, storage, transportation and sales ahead of the Diwali festive period. The operation was conducted under the guidance of senior State Excise Department officials, including Commissioner Dr Rajendra Deshmukh, Joint Commissioner Prasad Surve, Divisional Deputy Commissioner Sagar Dhomkar and Superintendent Ravikiran Kole. The team was led by Narayangaon State Excise Inspector Sharad Jadhav and Sub-Inspector Saurabh Awate, along with other department personnel. Cases Registered Under Maharashtra Prohibition Act Cases have been registered against the three arrested individuals under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949. According to officials, the accused were produced before a court in Junnar, which remanded them to police custody until November 2, 2026. Further investigation is being conducted to establish the source of the suspected counterfeit liquor, identify other people who may be involved and determine whether the stock was intended for distribution in additional areas. Excise Department Steps Up Action Against Illegal Liquor The State Excise Department has been conducting enforcement operations to prevent the circulation of illicit and counterfeit alcoholic products. Officials have warned that counterfeit liquor can pose serious health risks because its contents and manufacturing conditions may not meet safety standards. The latest seizure is being described by the Narayangaon division as one of its major operations in the previous eight months. The investigation remains ongoing, and further details about the alleged supply network are expected as officials examine the seized stock and related evidence.