Illegal Liquor Manufacturing Unit Uncovered in Suryapet

Fast Summary

• A large-scale spurious liquor unit was uncovered in Ramapuram village, Suryapet district, Telangana, during a State Task Force raid by the Prohibition and Excise Department.
• Two individuals were arrested: S. Mahesh Kumar from Palnadu district and Prakash, who owns the rice mill where operations occurred.
• Seized materials worth approximately ₹20 lakh included whiskey bottles, caps (42.8 kg branded + 56.3 kg generic), labels (over 7,800), six 200-litre steel jugs, among other production items.
• Key suspect Srinivas alias Abdul Kalam is on the run; other associates are currently jailed in Andhra Pradesh for related offenses.
• Officials revealed that adulterated rice was used to produce counterfeit branded liquor with fake packaging and labels.
• director of Excise Enforcement Shahnawaz Qasim linked this finding to similar illicit networks previously uncovered in Andhra Pradesh.
• The probe follows incidents like a 2022 counterfeit liquor case that caused health issues among consumers.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The exposure of yet another large-scale spurious liquor manufacturing operation underscores ongoing concerns regarding counterfeit alcohol networks in India, especially across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Such operations pose meaningful public health risks while undermining legitimate industries and state excise revenues.

The vigilance shown by authorities is commendable; however, repeat discoveries suggest broader systemic vulnerabilities requiring stronger regulatory oversight at distribution points alongside consistent enforcement action against perpetrators across state boundaries. Public awareness campaigns could also play an essential role in curbing demand for potentially harmful products.

This case illustrates the wider implications of organized economic crimes tied to public safety and governance efficiency-issues relevant not only for Telangana but possibly other Indian states facing similar challenges.

Read more at The Hindu