Nagpur: The Crime Branch’s Unit-1 team intercepted a Scorpio allegedly being used to transport liquor illegally on the Nagpur-Wardha highway and seized liquor and other property collectively valued at Rs 11.20 lakh, police said.
The action was taken between 9.30 pm and 10.50 pm on September 30, when Crime Branch personnel were patrolling the area while searching for criminals.
According to police, the team received specific information that a silver-grey Scorpio was being used to illegally transport a consignment of liquor from Wardha towards Nagpur. Acting on the information, the team laid a trap in front of the Soul Rooftop Hotel on the Nagpur-Wardha highway, within the Hingna police station limits.
The police spotted a Scorpio bearing registration number MH-20-DJ-4740, matching the description received by them, and intercepted the vehicle.
During a search conducted in the presence of panch witnesses, the driver identified himself as Yogesh Ganesh Akode, 34, a resident of Plot No. 84, Hudkeshwar, Nagpur.
Police said a substantial quantity of liquor was found inside the vehicle. The seized consignment included 1,000 bottles of country liquor bearing the ‘Bhingri Santra No. 1’ label, packed in 10 boxes.
The search further led to the seizure of 48 bottles of Royal Challenge, 48 bottles of Magic Moments, 96 bottles of Royal Stag 180 ml and 96 bottles of Royal Stag 90 ml.
The police also seized a mobile phone and the Scorpio used for transporting the liquor.
The total value of the seized property, including the liquor, vehicle and mobile phone, was assessed at Rs 11,20,480, police said.
A case has been registered against Akode at Hingna police station under Section 65(e) of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.
The accused, along with the seized liquor and other property, was handed over to Hingna police for further legal action.
Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the liquor, its intended destination and whether other persons were involved in the alleged illegal transportation network.
