Hyderabad: In a late-night crackdown on Saturday, officials from the Prohibition and Excise Department seized 115 bottles of non-duty paid liquor from two men at Hafeezpet in Serilingampally, exposing an illicit trade that had quietly flourished in the area.
Acting on a tip-off, excise officials intercepted a private car in Hafeezpet and found the duo transporting various brands of liquor, all suspected to have been sourced from defence canteens at subsidised rates. The seized bottles, meant exclusively for defence personnel, were being diverted for sale at marked-up prices in Hyderabad’s open market, officials said.
According to investigators, the accused had developed a steady network for sourcing and reselling liquor, making the racket particularly lucrative. The seizure has sent shockwaves through Serilingampally, where residents had long complained about the easy availability of non-duty paid liquor.
A case has been registered against the two men under the relevant sections of the Excise Act, and an investigation is underway to trace the larger network. Officials believe more people could be involved in smuggling and distributing the liquor across the city.
Authorities have warned that stringent action will be taken against anyone found involved in the illegal liquor trade, which not only cheats the exchequer but also undermines the law.