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<p data-start="83" data-end="415"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Punjab Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday announced that the State Excise Department has uncovered a major racket involving the refilling of premium scotch and whiskey bottles with low-quality alcohol. The operations also led to the seizure of a significant quantity of illicit liquor.</span></p>
<p data-start="417" data-end="601"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The raids, conducted in the Ludhiana (East) range based on intelligence inputs, were supervised by Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal along with other senior officials.</span></p>
<p data-start="603" data-end="922"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">"Our teams acted with precision to not only seize illegal stock but also to expose a new modus operandi where criminals are endangering public health by refilling premium bottles with low-quality liquor. This is a clear case of fraud and a serious threat to consumer safety, and we will not tolerate it," Cheema said.</span></p>
<p data-start="924" data-end="1443"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the first operation, enforcement teams dismantled a sophisticated network in Ludhiana refilling high-end imported liquor brands, including Glenlivet, Johnnie Walker Gold Label, and Chivas Regal, with cheaper Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Punjab Medium Liquor. Two suspects, Amit Vij and Pankaj Saini, were apprehended. Authorities recovered 106 empty bottles, 39 refilled bottles, bottling accessories, and a vehicle. An FIR has been filed at Police Station Division 3 in Ludhiana, and investigations are ongoing.</span></p>
<p data-start="1445" data-end="1770"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a separate operation, excise officials intercepted Vikramjeet Singh in Samrala with 60 bottles of illicit liquor labeled "For Sale in Chandigarh only." The consignment had been illegally smuggled into Punjab, leading to his arrest. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914.</span></p>
<p data-start="1772" data-end="2270" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Minister Cheema stressed that the Excise Department will continue rigorous enforcement drives across the state, including surprise inspections and coordinated inter-state operations, to dismantle illegal supply chains and prevent the circulation of spurious and non-duty-paid alcohol. He also urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local excise or police authorities, emphasizing that public cooperation is key to eliminating the menace of illicit liquor in Punjab.</span></p>
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<div class="pointer-events-none h-px w-px" aria-hidden="true" data-edge="true"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]</span></div>

Punjab Racket Busted Over Fake Scotch Bottles

Punjab Excise uncovers illegal refilling of premium scotch with cheap liquor, arrests made

Punjab Racket Busted Over Fake Scotch Bottles

Punjab Excise uncovers illegal refilling of premium scotch with cheap liquor, arrests made

August 31, 2025 | 18:18 IST