Delhi Police busts inter-state liquor syndicate, ₹1.5 crore illicit stock seized
Synopsis
Delhi Police's Mehrauli team cracked a 1.5-year-old smuggling network that disguised illicit liquor as LED TVs and electronics, shipping consignments from Delhi to Bengaluru via railway parcels. The coordinated bust — spanning two cities and two state excise departments — netted ₹1.50 crore in illicit stock and exposed a supply chain rooted in Gurugram.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police's South District busted an inter-state liquor syndicate on 25 May , seizing illicit liquor worth ₹1.50 crore .
Three accused arrested: Akhilesh Kumar Singh (34), Upender Singh (45), and Ankit Singh (23), all Delhi residents.
A total of 154 boxes and approximately 1,118 bottles recovered across Delhi and Bengaluru; two vehicles seized.
Liquor was falsely declared as LED televisions and electronics to evade detection at railway parcel offices.
The syndicate had allegedly operated for one-and-a-half years , with supply sourced from a Gurugram-based contact.
037/2026 registered on 23 May 2026 ; investigation into financials and additional members is ongoing.
Delhi Police's South District on Monday, 25 May dismantled a well-organised inter-state liquor smuggling syndicate operating across Delhi, Gurugram, and Bengaluru, seizing illicit liquor worth approximately ₹1.50 crore and arresting three accused. The operation, led by the Mehrauli Police Station team, followed sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering in the area.
How the Bust Unfolded
On 18 May, during routine patrolling in the Mehrauli area, police intercepted a tempo driven by accused Akhilesh Kumar Singh, 34, a resident of Paharganj. The vehicle was found loaded with 63 boxes of illicit liquor, which was immediately seized along with the vehicle.
Subsequent interrogation revealed that Singh transported the consignments to Okhla Railway Station on the instructions of co-accused Upender Singh, 45, and his son Ankit Singh, 23, both residents of Rajpur Khurd in Delhi. A raid at their residence yielded 11 additional boxes of illicit liquor, and both were arrested on the spot.
The Modus Operandi
Investigators found that the syndicate had been running this concealment-and-dispatch network for approximately one-and-a-half years. The accused procured illicit liquor from one Mohit, a resident of Gurugram, and transported consignments to railway parcel booking points via the intercepted tempo.
The liquor was then allegedly dispatched to Bengaluru under the guise of commercial goods — falsely declared as LED televisions and electronic items — to evade detection at multiple railway parcel offices. The use of private booking agencies and railway parcel services allowed the consignments to pass through unchecked, according to police.
Bengaluru Recovery and Karnataka Action
Recognising the interstate dimension, a special police team was dispatched to Bengaluru. In a coordinated operation, the team recovered 74 boxes containing approximately 1,118 bottles of illicit liquor from a train at Yeshwantpur Railway Station. The recovered stock was handed over to the Karnataka Excise Department, and legal proceedings were initiated under the Karnataka Excise Act.
A separate FIR — No. 037/2026 — was registered on 23 May 2026 under Sections 11, 12, 14, 15, 32(1), and 43 of the Excise Act in connection with the recovered Bengaluru consignment. An additional six boxes were also recovered from a car, which was seized as well — bringing the total vehicle seizures to two.
The Team Behind the Operation
The operation was conducted under the supervision of the ACP Mehrauli and led by Inspector Ritesh Kumar, SHO/Mehrauli. The field team comprised Inspector Kedar, SI Amit Kumar, ASIs Sunil Kumar and Ravi Kaushik, Head Constables Deepak Sharma, Gajraj, Harshwardhan, and Rohitash, and Constables Vinod and Manjeet.
What Comes Next
Investigators are now pursuing financial transaction trails, logistics channels, and the possible involvement of additional syndicate members — including the Gurugram-based supplier identified as Mohit. The cross-state nature of the racket suggests further arrests are likely as the probe widens.
Point of View
The full scale of the operation remains unknown.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Delhi Police seize in the inter-state liquor syndicate bust?
Delhi Police seized illicit liquor worth approximately ₹1.50 crore, comprising over 154 boxes and around 1,118 bottles, along with two vehicles used in transportation. The recoveries were made across Delhi and Bengaluru's Yeshwantpur Railway Station.
Who were the accused arrested in the Delhi liquor smuggling case?
Three people were arrested: Akhilesh Kumar Singh (34) of Paharganj, Upender Singh (45) of Rajpur Khurd, and Ankit Singh (23) also of Rajpur Khurd in Delhi. A fourth person, identified as Mohit from Gurugram, is believed to be the supplier and remains under investigation.
How did the syndicate smuggle liquor without detection?
The syndicate falsely declared liquor consignments as commercial goods such as LED televisions and electronics, routing them through private booking agencies and railway parcel services. This method reportedly allowed the consignments to pass through multiple parcel offices undetected for about one-and-a-half years.
What legal action has been taken in the case?
Cases were registered under the Excise Act, including FIR No. 037/2026 filed on 23 May 2026 under Sections 11, 12, 14, 15, 32(1), and 43. The Bengaluru seizure was handed over to the Karnataka Excise Department, which initiated separate proceedings under the Karnataka Excise Act.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Three accused are in custody and the probe is ongoing. Investigators are tracing financial transactions, logistics channels, and the possible role of additional syndicate members, including the Gurugram-based supplier and the Bengaluru recipients of the consignments.
