Cheap liquor in high-end bottles: Empties procured from scrap dealers, bartenders

Amit Sharma

Chandigarh, July 15

Investigation by the District Crime Cell (DCC) has revealed that the gang selling bottles of high-end brands filled with cheap liquor bought empties from scrap dealers as well as bartenders offering services at parties. They paid a good amount for the empties and cartons.

The accused filled the empties of premium brands such as Chivas Regal, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, Gold Label, Blue Label and Glenlivet with cheap liquor, including Blenders Pride, All Seasons and Royal Stag. Besides selling this counterfeit liquor to gullible customers, the accused sold cartons to employees of liquor stores at a discount. “To make easy money, the employees of liquor stores used to buy this spurious liquor and sell it to customers as genuine product,” said a police source.

The police arrested three members of the gang, Raja Seth (29), Ravi (31) and Gurusagar (24), and recovered 46 bottles of spurious Chivas Regal scotch whiskey from them.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Akash Tiwari, a resident of MDC, Panchkula. He was nabbed in the IT Park with spurious liquor kept in his car.

“Tiwari had previously been booked by Haryana Police for illegal sale of liquor. At that time, he had rented a place in Mani Majra where he filled bottles with cheap liquor,” said a police official.

The police said three of the accused worked as manager in a bottling plant and a beer plant. As such they knew how to refill bottles and seal these without arousing any suspicion.

Accused worked at bottling plants

The police said three of the accused worked as manager in a bottling plant and a beer plant. As such they knew how to refill bottles with cheap liquor and seal these without arousing suspicion.