535 litres of spurious liquor seized in Kalyana Karnataka

KALABURAGI: A popular liquor brand was misused by selling spurious liquor in its “quarter bottles” in the villages of Yadgir, Kalaburagi and Vijayapura. However, after noticing the same number on the government label over the cap of all “quarter bottles”, excise department officers have seized huge quantities of spurious liquor over the last five days.
The state government’s labels differ from bottle to bottle. On seeing the same number on all caps, excise officers tested the liquor and found it to be spurious, and also hazardous to human health. Soon after, they arrested two persons in Shahapur and seized 535 litres of spurious liquor from them.
The villagers, now shocked after the revelation, have started consuming liquor other than the brand in whose name the accused sold spurious liquor through provision stores, paan stalls and even in some houses for a commission.
Yadgir excise deputy commissioner Motilal, who got transferred to Yadgir recently, told TOI that he managed to seize 62 boxes at places bordering Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Vijayapura districts. He also added that the racketeers have misused the name of a particular brand.
“We are collecting information as to from where this spurious liquor was imported and also where its manufacturing unit is located,” he said.
Excise police have booked 12 persons and arrested four persons — Ayyappa, Anil, Bheemashankar and Devindrappa, all residents of Shahapur taluk village in Yadagr district. Hanamanth Sahu and Banashankar Sajjan, the main accused, are still at large, and a manhunt is on to nab them.