The Telangana Excise Special Task Force (STF) has busted an alleged liquor smuggling racket in Hyderabad by arresting two men for transporting non-duty-paid liquor from Goa and selling it illegally in the city.
According to officials, the two suspects are Kuntimalli Srinivas and PVVS Ramakrishna (the accused are residents of Ibrahimpatnam). The investigators said they often went to Goa over weekend trips to casino-like locations with friends and returned home by flight with liquor that was later sold illegally in Hyderabad to further profit.
#Goacasino trips expose #liquorsmuggling #racket in #Hyderabad
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A grocery shop owner and his associate allegedly flew to Goa on weekend casino trips, returned with non-duty-paid liquor, and sold it illegally to customers and at private functions in Hyderabad.
Acting on a… pic.twitter.com/Ve3RoqgxQZ
For specific information, the Telangana Excise STF intercepted the accused near Shamshabad Airport on specific intelligence. In this regard, 98 bottles of non-duty-paid liquor with an estimated value of around ₹2 lakh were recovered by the officials during the operation around Shamshabad Airport.
In addition to the liquor, a car used for the illegal transportation and distribution of the contraband was also seized by authorities. The liquor and vehicle were handed over to Shamshabad Excise Station for further investigation and legal proceedings.
The accused bought liquor in Goa, where some brands are available at lower prices due to differences in taxation, said the Excise Department. They are also suspected of ferrying the bottles by air to Hyderabad and selling them to individual customers and serving them at private parties and social functions without the required permissions or payment of applicable state duties.
According to officials, the operation was launched after a tip-off on the illegal movement of liquor into Telangana. Surveillance and intelligence gathering enabled the STF to catch the suspects before the liquor could be distributed in the local market.
The Excise Department is now looking into whether the two individuals were conducting the business themselves or in a larger organized network that transported liquor across state borders illegally. Both individuals have been questioned about their trips, how much liquor they brought, and whether other individuals were involved in the alleged racket.
Excise officials said the unauthorized import and sale of non-duty-paid liquor causes huge revenue loss to the state exchequer and is against the provisions of the Telangana Excise Act. The department has warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone who does so.
The seizure is the result of the Excise Department's continued efforts to curb illegal liquor trade and avoid tax evasion through interstate smuggling. Officials have pleaded with the public to report suspicious activities related to the illegal sale or transportation of liquor, and said that information reported will be addressed quickly.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities will continue to question the accused to determine the full extent of the alleged operation and identify any more persons connected to the case.
