Lucknow police and excise officials have once again uncovered a gang selling cheap liquor disguised as premium brands.
In a late-night raid in Chitwapur under Hussainganj police station, a team led by district excise officer Karunendra Singh and inspector Arvind Baghel recovered empty liquor bottles of top brands, fake caps, forged QR codes, and about three litres of spurious liquor. The accused, identified as Ram Pal, was arrested and booked under the Excise Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He has been sent to jail.
Officials revealed that the gang collected empty bottles in bulk from scrap dealers and even beggars, refilled them with low-grade liquor, and resealed them to look genuine. Customers were tricked into paying premium rates for the fake alcohol.
This is the second such case reported in Lucknow within weeks. On August 31, a similar gang was caught using the same method and offering doorstep delivery at night.
Over the weekend, excise teams also carried out surprise checks across the city and highways. Several trucks, tankers, and private vehicles were stopped and inspected. Raids were also conducted at dhabas and restaurants, where owners were warned against serving alcohol illegally.
