Ludhiana, Feb 18: A Ludhiana man faces charges after Punjab excise teams uncovered a racket dedicated to selling cheap alcohol disguised as luxury brands. The enforcement action resulted in the recovery of over 130 bottles and various sealing materials used to deceive unsuspecting consumers.
The suspect, identified as Lovelesh Verma, was apprehended in a parking area on Chandigarh Road following a targeted intelligence report. Officials declared that the operation involved a systematic process of collecting discarded high-end bottles and replacing the original contents with inferior liquor before resealing them for the black market.
Following the initial arrest, a raid on the suspect’s residence in Kundan Puri yielded a significant cache of contraband. Among the seized items were 12 bottles of Chivas Regal 18-year-old and 13 bottles of Glenfiddich 12-year-old, all found to have been refilled. The inventory also included empty containers of Ciroc Vodka, Royal Stag, and various aged whiskeys.
“There is zero tolerance for such unethical activities,” asserted Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal. He declared that the department remains committed to stopping the flow of spurious and smuggled spirits across the region.
The Moti Nagar Police Station has registered the case as authorities continue to probe the scale of the distribution chain. Officials maintained that the investigation is now focused on identifying other individuals who may have assisted in sourcing the empty bottles or facilitating the sales.
