Ludhiana excise department busts alcohol counterfeiting racket

The excise department in Ludhiana has uncovered a scheme that involved refilling premium scotch and whiskey bottles with cheap alcohol. On Saturday, officials arrested a woman connected to the operation while the main suspect, Arun Goswami, managed to escape. The team launched the investigation after receiving a tip-off. With the help of local police, they conducted raids in the Jaspal Bangar, Lohara, and Kanganwal areas. During the operation, they seized 176 caps from expensive liquor bottles and 89 bottles of adulterated liquor that were disguised in high-end brands. Out of 164 bottles of cheap liquor found, 71 did not have QR codes, which are used to verify authenticity. The officials discovered empty bottles from well-known brands like Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker. Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam stated that the refilled bottles were being sold at high prices to unsuspecting customers. Authorities believe this operation is part of a larger network involved in a more extensive scam. Goswami is already facing charges in a separate case related to illicit liquor smuggling.