New Delhi: In a continued crackdown on the illegal liquor trade, the Special Staff of Delhi Police, East District, apprehended a man with 500 quarters of illicit country-made liquor on Wednesday. The arrest is part of an intensified drive to curb the distribution and sale of unauthorized alcohol in the capital.
According to police officials, a dedicated team from the Special Staff, East District — comprising Head Constables Vinit and Vishal, along with Constable Rajeev — was on routine patrol near the Kalyanpuri-Gazipur Nala Road close to the Sports Complex area. The team was led by Inspector Jitendra Malik and was operating under the supervision of ACP Operations, Shri Pawan Kumar.
During the afternoon patrol on June 19, the team noticed a man transporting a rickshaw loaded with cartons concealed under a black plastic sheet. The individual, upon spotting the police team, exhibited suspicious behavior and appeared to be attempting to hide himself and the vehicle. This unusual conduct prompted the officers to intercept and question him.
On inquiry, the man failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the contents of the covered cartons. His evasive responses led the team to inspect the cargo. Upon checking, they discovered 500 quarters — roughly 90 litres — of country-made liquor branded as Santra Desi Sharab, each bottle marked “For Sale in Haryana Only,” indicating unauthorized transportation across state borders into Delhi.
The man was identified as Ramkumar, 29, a resident of Jhatampur under PS Jhatampur in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Employed as a laborer, Ramkumar confessed during preliminary interrogation that he had turned to selling illicit liquor due to financial strain and inconsistent income from his regular work. He admitted that the easy availability of low-cost liquor and its high demand in certain urban pockets of Delhi had drawn him into the illegal trade.
Based on the recovery and initial findings, a case under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act has been registered against the accused at Police Station Kalyanpuri. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the larger supply network and determine whether Ramkumar was part of a wider bootlegging syndicate.
The seizure of such a large quantity of illicit liquor is a significant success for the East District Police, especially in light of the ongoing special campaign against crime and unlawful trade. Authorities reiterated their commitment to continue aggressive enforcement to tackle illegal alcohol distribution, which poses not only a threat to public health but also encourages criminal activities.
The Delhi Police have urged the public to report suspicious activities related to illegal liquor and assured anonymity to informants. Regular checks and surprise raids are expected to continue across high-risk areas as law enforcement aims to dismantle networks involved in the smuggling and sale of non-duty-paid alcohol in the city.
This arrest underscores the growing vigilance and proactive policing measures being taken to control the flow of illicit substances and safeguard community welfare.
