Anantapur: The Police, Excise and Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) in Rayalaseema region have been alerted over the flow of illicit liquor from Goa in the run-up to the Telangana elections.
There were hints that several illicit distilleries from Goa and the border areas were currently arranging the supply of brands from various states through different modes of transport including trucks carrying groceries and other goods to Telangana.
These vehicles have to pass through AP’s Anantapur and Kurnool districts to enter Telangana state. Several leaders from these districts are reportedly involved in illicit liquor transportation from Goa.
A former official who was a part of the excise task force of Rayalaseema region said the rise of not only ID liquor but illicit liquor from unauthorised distilleries of Goa was likely.
The police and excise departments have been alerted over a possible rise in flow of of -duty-unpaid liquor from other states. The Guntakal excise (SEB) wing and the police busted such a gang a few years ago. It was transporting spurious liquor with fake brands. The role of an ZP chairman of TD from Kurnool district and his close relatives was suspected in connection with the sale of such liquor in Kurnool district.
A manufacturing unit near Goa transported spurious liquor beneath loads of biscuit cartons. The gang supplied duty-unpaid liquor under different fake labels of AP brands.
Though liquor prices were less in Telangana compared to AP, the illicit transportation of duty-unpaid liquor from Goa-based distilleries was suspected to be flowing via Rayalaseema region to Mahabubnagar of Telangana.
The Anantapur SEB along with police concentrated attention on border check posts to avoid entry of duty-unpaid liquor to cross the borders. SEB officials said a vigil is being kept at all check posts where possible entry of such liquor from Goa borders could happen.
Anantapur SP Anburajan directed the border police and SEB to actively curb flow of such liquor from unauthorised distilleries of other states.
