Biggest Illegal Liquor Seizure in Haryana: Joint Police–Excise Raid Nets 42,000 Bottles
42,000 bottles of duty-evaded premium whiskey seized in record raid.
Joint team of Haryana Police and the state Excise Department raided “Theka Wine Shop” near Signature Tower in Gurugram and unearthed the largest-ever haul of illicit foreign liquor in Haryana’s history. Authorities confiscated 42,000 bottles of ultra-premium international brands — valued at approximately Rs 10 crore on the black market — that had been smuggled into India without payment of customs or excise duties.
The seized stock comprised 3,921 cases (each containing 6–12 bottles) and 176 loose bottles of coveted labels retailing between Rs 5,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh per bottle. Officials revealed that the consignment was systematically routed through airports via organised smuggling syndicates and supplied exclusively to high-net-worth customers in Gurugram, Delhi-NCR, and neighbouring states, generating enormous illicit profits for the network.
Acting on precise intelligence, excise officials reached the upscale liquor vend during peak hours expecting to recover around 100 illegal bottles. Instead, they were stunned to discover an entire hidden stockpile, far exceeding any previous seizure in the state. Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Amit Bhatia described the operation as a breakthrough, confirming that an FIR has been registered against the licensed contractor and announcing intensive raids on every premium liquor outlet across Gurugram in the coming days.
Also Read: Family Suspects Possession in Haryana Woman's Chilling Child Killings Confession
The raid has exposed alarming lapses in regulatory oversight, prompting the Excise Department to launch an internal probe into how such a massive quantity reached a licensed shop undetected. Preliminary interrogation of shop employees revealed daily turnover touching Rs 50 lakh, driven by elite clientele purchasing rare single malts and limited-edition spirits. Sources indicate the smuggling ring has active links across Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan, with more arrests likely as the investigation deepens.
The seizure represents a colossal revenue loss running into several crores for the Haryana government while highlighting the flourishing parallel economy of duty-free luxury liquor in the Millennium City. Authorities have vowed zero tolerance, with enhanced surveillance, stricter vendor audits, and coordination with customs agencies to dismantle the remaining tentacles of this high-stakes smuggling operation.
Also Read: “Killer Mom” Confesses to Drowning Four Children Driven by Beauty Jealousy
