Delhi Police bust interstate liquor racket; 147 cartons seized, one arrested
Synopsis
Delhi Police's ASB Cell intercepted a Tata Ace near Ghazipur Shamshan Ghat on the night of 2-3 August, seizing 147 cartons of Haryana-labelled country liquor destined for Delhi distribution. The arrested driver, Mohit, 24, already carries five prior excise cases — pointing to a well-entrenched cross-border supply chain that investigators are now working to unravel ahead of the festive season.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's ASB Cell, East District , busted an interstate liquor racket on 4 August 2026 , ahead of the festive season.
147 cartons of country liquor — all marked 'For Sale in Haryana Only' — were seized from a Tata Ace goods vehicle near Ghazipur Shamshan Ghat .
Arrested: Mohit , 24 , of Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh , with five prior cases under the Delhi Excise Act.
375/2026 registered under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act at Ghazipur Police Station .
The seized stock included brands Santra , Race-7 , and Murthal No.
1 ; investigators are working to trace the full supply network.
Delhi Police's Anti-Snatching and Burglary (ASB) Cell, East District, on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, dismantled an interstate illicit liquor supply network operating between Haryana and Delhi, arresting one bootlegger and seizing 147 cartons of illegal liquor from a goods vehicle. The crackdown, carried out ahead of the festive season, also led to the registration of FIR No. 375/2026 under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act at Ghazipur Police Station.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, a dedicated police team — led by SI Ajay Tomar, In-Charge of the ASB Cell, under the supervision of ACP (Operations) Pavan Kumar — laid a trap near Ghazipur Shamshan Ghat in East Delhi during the intervening night of 2 and 3 August. The team included ASI Sabu, Head Constables Shailendra Singh, Subodh, and Manendra, and Constable Moradhvaj.
A parallel team from the Delhi Excise Department, led by SI Sachin and comprising Head Constables Rahul and Amit, independently tracked the suspicious vehicle to the same location. In a coordinated intercept, both teams stopped a Tata Ace goods vehicle and apprehended its driver on the spot.
The Seized Consignment
A detailed search of the vehicle yielded 147 cartons of country liquor, all labelled 'For Sale in Haryana Only' — making their transportation into Delhi a clear violation of excise law. The recovered stock comprised 5,200 quarter bottles (104 cartons) of Deshi Sharab 'Santra', 850 quarter bottles (17 cartons) of Deshi Sharab 'Race-7', and 312 bottles (26 cartons) of Deshi Sharab 'Murthal No. 1'. The goods vehicle used to ferry the consignment was also seized.
Who Was Arrested
The arrested accused has been identified as Mohit, 24, a resident of Village Sewapur in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh. Educated up to Class VIII, Mohit had been working as a driver for five to six years before allegedly being drawn into illegal liquor transportation for a commission, according to police. During interrogation, he disclosed that he had collected the consignment from Haryana and was en route to the delivery point near Ghazipur Shamshan Ghat when intercepted.
Police records show that five cases under the Delhi Excise Act had previously been registered against him, indicating a pattern of repeat involvement in the trade, according to investigators.
Wider Network Under Scanner
Investigators are now working to trace the liquor's source, its intended recipients, and other members of the supply chain. Police said efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest associates connected to the racket. This operation is part of a broader festive-season drive by the ASB Cell against bootlegging, illegal arms trafficking, and related criminal activity in East Delhi.
With the investigation still active, authorities say the full scale of the interstate network — spanning procurement in Haryana, cross-border transport, and distribution across Delhi — is yet to be established.
Point of View
Not a one-off bust. Festive-season crackdowns are a recurring ritual for Delhi Police, but the deeper question is why a repeat offender was still active in the same trade. The cross-border dimension — Haryana-labelled stock moving into Delhi through an organised logistics chain — also points to systemic gaps in inter-state excise coordination that a single FIR will not fix. Until the network's financiers and distributors are named, this arrest is the bottom rung of a much larger operation.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Delhi Police seize in the 4 August 2026 liquor bust?
Delhi Police seized 147 cartons of country liquor — all marked 'For Sale in Haryana Only' — along with the Tata Ace goods vehicle used to transport them. The consignment included brands Santra, Race-7, and Murthal No. 1, totalling over 6,300 bottles.
Who was arrested in the Delhi illicit liquor case?
The arrested accused is Mohit, 24, a resident of Village Sewapur in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh. He was working as a driver and was allegedly paid a commission to ferry liquor consignments from Haryana to Delhi.
What charges have been filed in the case?
A case has been registered as FIR No. 375/2026 under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act at Ghazipur Police Station. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the supply network.
Why is this bust significant ahead of the festive season?
Demand for cheap, untaxed liquor typically rises during festive periods, making cross-border smuggling more lucrative. The ASB Cell's festive-season mandate specifically targets bootlegging and related criminal activity in East Delhi.
Is the investigation ongoing?
Yes. Police are actively working to identify the liquor's source in Haryana, its intended recipients in Delhi, and other associates in the smuggling network. Mohit's prior five excise cases suggest a larger, established operation.
