Huge haul of duplicate liquor seized from govt-licensed shop in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Sept 16: Officials from the Excise Department on Monday seized a large quantity of counterfeit liquor from a government-licensed shop in the Baramunda area of Bhubaneswar. The seizure occurred during a surprise raid conducted by the Excise team at the licensed store.

Preliminary investigations revealed discrepancies in the liquor bottles, including differences in caps, holograms, and other features compared to genuine brands. The Excise Department had previously collected samples from the store, which confirmed the irregularities.

The raid initially targeted the accommodation of the shop's staff, where officials discovered several counterfeit caps and excise adhesives. Subsequently, a search of the store itself uncovered bottles with counterfeit caps and labels.

To verify the authenticity of liquor, customers can scan a QR code that displays the bottle's serial number, brand, and quantity. The Excise Department routinely collects and tests samples from various liquor outlets.

During Monday's operation, stock valued at approximately Rs 40 lakh was seized, and samples will be sent for further examination. The shop is licensed to an individual from Jharkhand.