Intensifying vigil before Holi, a combined excise force from Ramgarh and Ranchi districts demolished an underground fake liquor operation on their frontier Thursday. Nestled in Ptaratu block’s Talatand near the shmashan road, the factory was raided following precise intelligence.
The dimly lit, asbestos-covered half-built house concealed an alarming array of bootlegging tools. Teams carted away 80 crates of empty Royal Challenge 180ml bottles, 59 crates of Black Dog empties, one crate of Signature, 15 bundles of deceptive labels for premium whiskies including Imperial Blue, five crates of caps, a punching apparatus, 15 carton bundles, and four crates of sealing tapes.
Assistant Commissioner Arvind Kujur affirmed the raid’s role in choking supply lines for toxic liquor. Inspector Kongres Kumar described the scale, underscoring the factory’s capacity to deceive markets with hazardous fakes.
Festive periods see a spike in such crimes, endangering lives through contaminated drinks that evade quality checks. This operation exemplifies inter-district collaboration, vital for tackling cross-border rackets.
With seizures secured and cases registered under excise regulations, the department vows relentless pursuit. Public awareness campaigns accompany the drive, educating on spotting genuine products amid rising health threats.