Bhubaneswar's Secret Liquor Operation Exposed: Major Raids Uncover Illegal Activities

Crackdown on Illegal Liquor Production

Bhubaneswar: In a significant operation, the Excise Department of Bhubaneswar conducted a raid on an illegal country liquor storage and distribution facility disguised as a water bottling plant in the Mund jungle area near Daruthenga village on the outskirts of the city last Friday.

Deputy Superintendent Raj Sekhar Swain, who oversaw the operation, reported the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of 9,510 liters of illicit liquor valued at approximately Rs 19 lakh. The authorities also confiscated around 28,000 plastic bottles, 7,000 empty pouches, a sealing machine, and several vehicles, including three four-wheelers and a two-wheeler used for transporting the illegal goods.

The arrested individuals were identified as Sukanta Sahoo, Bharat Sahoo, Pankaj Mansingh, and Sunil Kumar Swain. However, a fifth suspect managed to flee just moments before the raid commenced.

The Deputy Superintendent explained that the raid was initiated early in the morning following a tip-off regarding the illegal production of country liquor within the purported water bottling facility. The culprits had chosen this remote location to evade detection.

During questioning, the detained suspects reportedly revealed that they procured the liquor from the Athagarh region and subsequently packaged it in plastic bottles for distribution. Efforts are currently underway to apprehend the primary supplier from Athagarh linked to this operation. Swain confirmed that the four men have been charged under Section 52 (b) of the Excise Act and were presented before a local court for remand.