The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
How drone helped cops bust bootlegging op in Aravallis
AROUND 6.30 AM on Tuesday, a Gurgaon Police team set off on a 1.5-km trek into the wilderness of Gurgaon’s Aravalli hills near Rithoj village — the area was empty, save for a few trees and straggly shrubs. Their intel — images captured on a drone a few days ago — however, pointed to canisters and drums being stored in the otherwise sequestered area.
Soon enough, the team of 20 officers swooped in on a gang of seven — including a minor — allegedly running a clandestine bootlegging operation. They also seized 1,600 litres of spurious raw liquor stored in barrels, drums, and plastic canisters.
Police said the area has been a spot for illegal activity for more than six months.
DCP (South) Sidhant Jain said, “We captured visuals of people making spurious liquor, but we were not certain as patrolling was impossible in the area given its terrain and the high temperature in the day. The terrain was uneven, with no vegetation except a few trees and shrubs present .... even animals do not graze there. The men were brewing liquor at odd hours and we could not take out a raid without local inputs. So, we approached local informers and got to know that the men were making liquor.”
Police said in a process that was as tedious as it was long, the accused would allegedly make the liquor with jaggery, a special tree bark, spices and water; it was allegedly sold in 700 ml bottles for Rs 80 a piece, carried down and delivered to local village residents on motorcycles.
“In winter, fermentation takes a week, but it is faster in summer. After fermentation, a lid is placed above the concoction and a vessel with cold water is placed over it while the brew is heated. Slowly, the liquor is separated from the potion and is retrieved,” the DCP said.
The accused have been identified as Sache, Ganga, Manoj, Anil, Khemchand, all residents of Rithoj, and Munshiram, a resident of Sahjivas.
During the raid, the police said it seized about 50 litres of finished country liquor, 1,600 litres of “lahan” stored in eight barrels, two iron drums, eight plastic drums, and three plastic cans.
“Lahan”, according to the Punjab Excise Act, refers to any solution made from gur or molasses, or both, to which an agent has been added to promote fermentation or which has undergone the process and from which spirit can be obtained by distillation.
A crate, an axe, a shovel, two earthen utensils, and three plastic pipes were also among the equipment recovered from the accused, who were arrested under the Excise Act for setting up an illegal liquor distillery and producing spurious liquor.
Police said they are questioning the accused to ascertain if more groups are working around the area. “We have sought details of the people they sold the liquor to and others they have been in touch with,” the DCP added.