Delhi Police arrest 2 bootleggers, seize 121 quarters of illicit liquor
Synopsis
Delhi Police's North-East District conducted back-to-back liquor raids on Wednesday evening, nabbing two bootleggers with a combined 121 quarters of illicit liquor. Both men carry prior criminal records — one with four previous NDPS and excise cases — highlighting the persistent challenge of repeat offenders in Delhi's illicit liquor trade.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's North-East District arrested two bootleggers on 30 September 2026 in separate evening operations.
A total of 121 quarters of illicit liquor were recovered — 81 quarters from Mohd.
Bilal in Bhajanpura and 40 quarters from Vijay in Sonia Vihar.
Bilal, 40 , had four prior cases under the NDPS Act and Delhi Excise Act ; Vijay, 32 , had three prior excise cases .
FIRs registered under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act at PS Bhajanpura ( FIR No.
415/26 ) and PS Sonia Vihar ( FIR No.
Further investigation into both cases is underway.
Delhi Police's North-East District has arrested two bootleggers in separate operations on Wednesday evening, 30 September 2026, recovering a combined 121 quarters of illicit liquor across the Bhajanpura and Sonia Vihar areas of the city. Both accused have prior criminal records under excise and narcotics laws.
The Bhajanpura Operation
Constable Naseem of PS Bhajanpura, while on patrol near the MTNL Park in Yamuna Vihar, spotted a man carrying a white plastic sack in a suspicious manner. When signalled to stop, the individual attempted to walk away quickly, prompting the officer to give chase and apprehend him inside the park.
A search of the sack yielded 81 quarters of illicit liquor. The accused was identified as Mohd. Bilal, 40, son of Mohd. Mustakim, a resident of Street No. 3, Garhi Mendu, Bhajanpura. Investigators subsequently found that Bilal had been previously involved in four cases under the NDPS Act and the Delhi Excise Act. FIR No. 415/26, dated 30 September 2026, was registered at PS Bhajanpura under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act.
The Sonia Vihar Operation
In a simultaneous crackdown, Head Constable Vinod Kumar of PS Sonia Vihar, patrolling near G-Block, Gali No. 22, Sonia Vihar, noticed a man allegedly selling illicit liquor from a vacant plot. On spotting the officer, the accused grabbed a plastic sack and attempted to flee but was chased down and arrested.
The recovery from the sack amounted to 40 quarters of illicit liquor. The accused was identified as Vijay, 32, son of Ram Lal, a resident of Gali No. 22, 5th Pushta, Sonia Vihar. Records indicate he had been involved in three prior cases under the Delhi Excise Act. FIR No. 235/26, dated 30 September 2026, was registered at PS Sonia Vihar under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act.
Crackdown Context
The twin arrests are part of a broader intensification of Delhi Police's drive against illegal liquor distribution in the north-east district. Both accused were known to authorities, underscoring a recurring challenge: repeat offenders re-entering the illicit supply chain after prior arrests. Further investigation into both cases is ongoing, according to police.
Point of View
But the repeat-offender angle deserves attention: one of the two accused carried four prior cases under the NDPS and Excise Acts, yet was back on the street running the same operation. This points to a structural gap — either bail conditions are too permissive for habitual excise offenders, or deterrence under Section 33 is insufficient. Delhi's illicit liquor problem is less about isolated incidents and more about a supply chain that replenishes itself faster than enforcement can disrupt it.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bootleggers were arrested in the Delhi Police operation on 30 September 2026?
Two bootleggers were arrested in separate operations by teams from PS Bhajanpura and PS Sonia Vihar in Delhi's North-East District on 30 September 2026. A combined total of 121 quarters of illicit liquor was recovered.
Who are the accused in the Delhi illicit liquor case?
The accused are Mohd. Bilal, 40, a resident of Garhi Mendu, Bhajanpura, arrested with 81 quarters of illicit liquor, and Vijay, 32, a resident of Sonia Vihar, arrested with 40 quarters. Both have prior criminal records under the Delhi Excise Act.
What law were the accused charged under?
Both accused were booked under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act. FIR No. 415/26 was registered at PS Bhajanpura and FIR No. 235/26 at PS Sonia Vihar, both dated 30 September 2026.
Did the accused have prior criminal records?
Yes. Mohd. Bilal was found to have been involved in four previous cases under the NDPS Act and the Delhi Excise Act, while Vijay had three prior cases under the Delhi Excise Act.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Further investigation into both cases is underway, according to Delhi Police. The recoveries and arrests are part of the North-East District's ongoing crackdown on the illegal sale and transportation of illicit liquor.
