Nagpur: In a shocking exposure of brazen illegality and regulatory failure, the State Excise Department has unearthed a full-fledged fake Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) manufacturing unit operating under the nose of authorities at Gondwana Pimpri village in the Hingna area near Nagpur. The raid led to the seizure of a staggering 1,090 litres of spurious liquor, highlighting the alarming scale at which toxic alcohol was being produced and pushed into the local market.
Excise officials raided bungalow No. 133 in My Town Society, Sector-8, and found a well-organised illicit factory churning out counterfeit liquor with impunity. The premises were stocked with 1,090 litres of fake IMFL blend ready for bottling and distribution. In a clear violation of state laws, officials also seized 356 bottles of Goa Whisky, banned for sale in Maharashtra, along with an additional 90 bulk litres of other adulterated liquor.
Gold Rate
13 Jan 2026
The sheer volume of the seizure leaves little doubt that the operation was not a small-time racket but a systematic and commercial-scale enterprise endangering public health. The raid uncovered sophisticated equipment used to run the illegal unit, including an electronic bottle-sealing machine, fake Rocket brand labels, counterfeit Royal Stag caps, empty bottles, packaging material and a four-wheeler used to transport the illicit consignment. The total value of the seized stock and equipment has been pegged at Rs 24.67 lakh.
A case has been registered against prime accused Shubham Govind Tiwari (31), who is currently absconding. Others named in the case include Govind Ramdutt Tiwari, Shailendra Dhurve, Raghunath Uike, Rajkumar Uike, Dwarka Shivlal Inwati and Pramod Nathuji Sayam. Sources revealed that the illegal liquor unit had been operating for nearly a year, raising serious questions about enforcement lapses and the failure to detect such a hazardous operation earlier.
The crackdown was carried out under the supervision of District Superintendent Suraj Kumar Ramod. Meanwhile, the Excise Department has launched a wider probe to trace the supply chain, distribution network and possible links that allowed this dangerous racket to thrive unchecked for months.
