PANAJI
Three persons from Maharashtra and Goa were arrested during a raid at Chorla Ghat for allegedly smuggling liquor across the border into Karnataka.
Bhimgovinda Patil and Prakash Karagiri from Sangli, Maharashtra, and Babajam Balari from Salcete, Goa, have been arrested by the Crime Branch. The accused were caught transporting 1,500 illegal liquor boxes, totaling 72,000 bottles, concealed beneath “decomposed material in a truck” with registration number MH-10-CR-2742, without a valid permit. The seized liquor is valued at approximately Rs 36 lakh, according to the CB.
“Further investigation revealed that the liquor bottles were procured from a Pepsi godown located at Arlem Junction, Margao, for Bellary, Karnataka,” the CB said.
The vehicle, along with the seized liquor bottles, and the accused persons, were handed over to the Excise Inspector at the Excise Station, Sattari, for further action.
