State Excise Department Cracks Major Liquor Theft Racket in Pune, Seizes Two Tankers Worth ₹1.19 Crore

Pune’s State Excise Department busts a liquor theft racket, seizing two tankers and material worth ₹1.19 crore. Detailed investigation, timeline, and key implications.

Pune|November 29, 2025: The State Excise Department in Pune has uncovered a major liquor theft and smuggling racket involving spirit meant for licensed industrial units. The operation, carried out by the divisional flying squad on November 25, led to the seizure of two tankers and other material valued at ₹1.19 crore. According to officers, the accused had been diverting spirit by manipulating transport routes and falsifying documents, making the entire operation appear legitimate on paper. Officials believe this was not a one-off incident but part of a long-running system where spirit was siphoned off and taken to undisclosed locations for illegal bottling and distribution.

The crackdown followed weeks of surveillance after the department received multiple tip-offs about tankers stopping at suspicious locations in the Bhor area. Investigators set a trap and intercepted the vehicles, discovering that both tankers carried spirit with no valid documents supporting their transport. Additional equipment suspected to be used for siphoning was also found. Senior officials said the operation exposed the kind of organised networks that continue to exploit loopholes in the transport and monitoring system. They added that the department is reviewing all permits, GPS logs and transport records to map the exact route deviations.

This case fits into a broader pattern of spirit diversion across Maharashtra. High demand, large price gaps between legal and illegal products, and interstate smuggling routes have made the state particularly vulnerable. Over the past year, enforcement agencies have been dealing with heightened movement of goods due to national security concerns linked to the West Asia crisis, tensions involving Iran and Israel, and increased checking on national highways. As a result, syndicates involved in smuggling often try to take advantage of gaps in monitoring when enforcement attention is stretched. Experts say that spirit diversion not only causes significant tax losses but also fuels unsafe bootleg markets that can lead to serious public health hazards, similar to tragedies seen in other states.

The arrested drivers and handlers are now being questioned to identify who orchestrated the racket. Investigators are looking into whether the seized tankers had been used previously for similar diversions and whether the operation had any interstate links, especially with smuggling networks that move spirit toward Gujarat, Karnataka or northern markets. The excise department is also coordinating with other districts to track patterns that might connect this case with earlier seizures.

The raid near Bhor has once again drawn attention to the growing sophistication of liquor theft operations in Maharashtra. The seizure of material worth ₹1.19 crore has pushed authorities to tighten checks, strengthen real-time tracking, and ensure that transport vehicles carry authentic and verifiable documents. As the investigation expands in the coming days, officials expect more arrests and a deeper understanding of how the network operated. This case serves as another reminder of the importance of strict monitoring in preventing illegal liquor trade and protecting public safety.

Follow us On Our Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter

Also Read- Pune