the goan I network
BELAGAVI
Goan liquor worth a combined Rs 6.71 lakh was seized in two separate cases near Kolhapur-Maharashtra and near Khanapur-Karnataka.
In the first case, excise officials from Kolhapur seized 60 boxes of Goan liquor worth Rs 5,51,000 and also seized a vehicle in a raid near Kolhapur late Friday evening. Two persons have been arrested in this connection.
According to excise officials from Kolhapur, the vehicle was seized near Ujlaiwadi, about 15 kms from Kolhapur. Acting on suspicion, excise personnel from Kolhapur chased the pickup and found it carrying a huge quantity of Goa liquor.
A flying squad led by Gopal Mahadeo carried out the raids under the directions of Regional Excise Commissioner Y M Pawar, Excise SP Ganesh Patil and DySP Bapusaheb Chougale.
Gopal Namdev Sawant and Firoz Ahmed Shaikh, both from Sawantwadi, were arrested near Sangli Phata.
In the second case, the Belagavi excise subdivision seized 146.88 litres of Goa liquor packed in 17 cases illegally being transported in a Goa registered vehicle.
According to officials, the liquor worth Rs 1.2 lakh was being transported in a vehicle from Goa to Gadag in north Karnataka and was seized near Khanapur along the Belagavi-Goa road.
Acting on information and under directions of Joint Commissioner of Excise (Belagavi division) Dr Y Manjunatha and Deputy Commissioner Excise Basavaraj Sandigawad, Excise DySP Vijayakumar J Hiremath and SI A V Rawal arrested the accused, Maruti Monappa Lamani of Gadag.
Dy SP Hiremath said excise authorities have been keeping strict vigilance following a rise in the cases of illicit liquor being transported in Karnataka.
