Nagpur: In a significant action against illegal liquor smuggling, the Nagpur Rural Anti-Narcotics (NDPS) Squad busted an illicit Atlans-border liquor racket and seized Madhya Pradesh–sourced foreign liquor worth ₹15.07 lakh, along with vehicles, mobile phones and cash, taking the total seizure value to nearly ₹19 lakh. Two accused have been booked at Bori Police Station under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.

The case has been registered as Crime No. 22/26 under Sections 65(a)(e), 81 and 83 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act.

The accused have been identified as Ashish Manikrao Darote (42), a resident of Ayodhya Nagar, Manevada, Nagpur, and Jitendrasingh Ranjit Singh (31), a resident of Ramnagar, Wardha district. Police said Darote was illegally procuring liquor from Madhya Pradesh, altering bottle labels and stickers, and selling it in Maharashtra to evade state excise revenue.

According to police sources, the NDPS squad received confidential information while on patrol on January 14, 2026, at around 3.40 pm, about the illegal liquor storage and sale at Darote’s premises in Kanhalgaon. Acting swiftly, the team conducted a raid in the presence of panch witnesses.

During the raid, police seized foreign liquor worth ₹15,07,320, various bottle caps, corks and stickers used for relabelling, a car (MH-20-EJ-1315) worth ₹3.50 lakh, a moped (MH-49-BD-5714) worth ₹50,000, three mobile phones worth ₹45,000, and ₹2,220 in cash.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Superintendent of Police, Nagpur Rural, Harssh Poddar, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Maske, and Sub-Divisional Police Officer Bhagyashri Dhirbassi (Nagpur Sub-Division).

The raid was jointly executed by API Ajitsingh Devare, PSI Pravin Bhimte, HC Pravin Devhare, Prakash Dhoke, Amrut Kinge, PC Amol Nagre, PC Tushar Gajbhiye, and PC Avinash Todsam of the Anti-Narcotics Squad, Nagpur Rural, along with staff of Butibori Police Station.

Police have launched further investigation to trace the supply chain and identify other persons involved in the interstate illegal liquor trade.