By | Abhaysinh Hawaldar
Satara : In a major crackdown on liquor smuggling, the State Excise Flying Squad, Satara, intercepted a truck transporting Goa-manufactured foreign liquor into Maharashtra and seized contraband worth over ₹1.22 crore. The operation was carried out at the Taswade toll plaza on the Pune–Asian Highway following a carefully planned trap based on intelligence inputs.
During the raid, officials confiscated 48,960 bottles of Royal Blue Malt Whisky (1,020 cartons), an Eicher six-wheeler truck bearing registration number MH-43-BOX-9408, and an Oppo mobile phone used by the accused. The total value of the seized goods amounts to ₹1,22,76,200.
The accused has been identified as 29-year-old Akash Chandrakant Ghotkule, a resident of Maval in Pune district. He has been booked under several provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, including Sections 65(A)(E), 90, 103, and 108. Authorities confirmed that further investigation is underway to trace possible links to larger smuggling networks.
This decisive action was taken under the directives of Excise Commissioner Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, with guidance from Joint Commissioner (Enforcement & Vigilance) Prasad Surve, Deputy Commissioner (Kolhapur Division) Vijay Chichankar, and Superintendent Babasaheb Bhutkar. Superintendent Bhutkar also appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any instances of spurious or country-made liquor manufacturing, sale, or transportation to the excise department, stressing that community cooperation is crucial in curbing the menace of illicit liquor trade.
