Thane: The Thane Crime Branch unit arrested four individuals for allegedly making bogus labels for branded foreign liquor supplied across Maharashtra. The foreign liquor was transported from Goa, and it was mentioned on the liquor bottles that it is sell in Goa; however, they brought it to Dombivli, created bogus labels for the branded foreign liquor and beer, placed them on the bottles, and sold it in Maharashtra in order to earn more margin.
The Thane Crime Branch unit arrested four individuals for allegedly making bogus labels for branded foreign liquor supplied across Maharashtra. The foreign liquor was transported from Goa, and it was mentioned on the liquor bottles that it is sold in Goa; however, they brought it to Dombivli, created bogus labels for the branded foreign liquor and beer, placed them on the bottles, and sold them in Maharashtra in order to earn a larger profit margin.
The police confiscated foreign liquor worth Rs 30 lakh that was transported from Goa to Dombivli by a hidden method. The officials said that they received information that foreign liquor of different brands was purchased at low prices from Goa, the labels of the brands were removed, bogus foreign liquor brand labels were stuck on, and it was supplied across Maharashtra to earn more profit.
The police said that they created a bogus batch, including the manufacturing and expiry dates, and later placed it on that bottle. It was then supplied across Maharashtra. Based on a tip-off, a team was formed and laid a trap on June 4 at 8:25 PM in the Sudamwadi area of Dombivli East.
They intercepted a Bolero and found foreign liquor, later questioning the occupants about it. The police then rushed to the location and discovered a total of 18,210 bottles of whisky and beer, printing machines, three cartridges, equipment that is used for making duplicate or bogus labels, and a Bolero vehicle a total valued at Rs 30 lakh, which were later seized.
The four arrested accused have been identified as Shrikant Tokade (27), Vakil Mandal (23), Ravi Tiwari (30), and Sanjit Yadav (19), all of whom are residents of Kalyan and Dombivli, respectively.
During the investigation, it was learned that Shrikant was a driver who transported the liquor, while Vakil was a cleaner on the Bolero vehicle. Ravi and Sanjit allegedly stored the liquor after changing the label and placed a duplicate label on it. Further investigation is being carried out by the crime branch.
Sachin Gaikwad, Senior Police Inspector from Crime Branch Unit One, said, "During the probe, it was learned that the Goa-based foreign liquor is priced very low. The modus operandi of the accused is that they purchased it and brought it to Maharashtra, removed the Goa label, and created a bogus label which stated the liquor was to be sold in Maharashtra. We booked them for cheating, forgery, and other relevant charges against them. Further investigation is underway."
An FIR has been registered against them under relevant sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the relevant section of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act. All the accused were arrested on June 4, produced in court, and remanded into police custody until June 9.
