14 October,2014 08:53 AM IST | | Neha LM Tripathi
Since the code of conduct came into force, 27 squads of state excise department have been cracking down on transportation of illegal alcohol; 500 arrests have been made in these cases
Deepak Arunkumar Shah (sitting) was caught with 37 bottles of foreign liquor on September 27 in Worli
The State Excise department seems to have reined in transporters of illegal alcohol in the state after the model code of conduct came into force. Since September 12, officials have seized 14,128 litres of illegal alcohol which was being transported into Mumbai.
In police net: Deepak Arunkumar Shah (sitting) was caught with 37 bottles of foreign liquor on September 27 in Worli
For this purpose, excise authorities created 27 squads across the island city and suburbs. In the suburbs alone, officials have registered 437 cases involving 10,550 litres of illegal alcohol. 412 people have been arrested in the suburbs in connection with these cases. The total worth of the booze seized in the suburbs is approximately Rs 50 lakh. Two flying squads and 14 teams worked to nab the culprits.
In one of the cases in the suburbs, Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) worth Rs 1.61 lakh was seized on September 29 from Juhu bus depot. Four people - Rajesh Chaudhary (30), Ashish Chamriya (19), Walji Patel (40) and Sanjay Ahir (28) - were arrested.
Island city
In the island city, 3,578 litres of alcohol worth Rs 21.6 lakh has been seized. A total of 93 instances have been recorded and 88 people have been arrested. Nine teams and two flying squads kept watch the over island city for movement of alcohol. In one of the cases, on September 27 at around 7.30 pm, officials received a tip-off about an Alto carrying booze. At 10.30 pm, a car bearing licence plate number MH-43-AR-2088 was spotted waiting at S K Ahire Marg in Worli. Vashi resident Deepak Arunkumar Shah, the occupant, was carrying 37 bottles of foreign liquor (1 litre each) to deliver to a third party.
The very next day, around 4 pm, information was relayed regarding a spot on N M Joshi Marg. Naresh Ramniklal Satra, also a Vashi resident, was caught with 32 bottles of alcohol (1 litre each). Satra, who had picked up the batch from Turbhe, was detained. Officials got bartenders to check the booze and ascertained that it was fake.
The alcohol has been sent for chemical testing. R S Parmar, superintendent, State Excise (City) said, "The main areas which we are keeping an eye on are Sion-Koliwada, Dadar and Worli."
Most of the cases
registered with the police are under sections 63, 66 and 84 of Bombay Prohibition Act. A total of 80 squads for 80 check posts across the state have been deputed for this task of intercepting alcohol.
Rs 1.91cr
Total value of seized alcohol in the state
1.58lakh
Litres of alcohol seized since the code of conduct was imposed in the state
