MUMBAI: The state excise department busted a liquor duplication racket in Dharavi where fake Scotch, Johnnie Walker whisky was being produced and sold in bottles of high-end foreign brands. Police seized bottles of liquor, several empty bottles of various foreign brands, counterfeit labels, and other materials used to replicate authentic packaging worth Rs 5 lakhs.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Inspector Riyaz Khan and Santosh Shivpurkar raided a room in Shivshakti Nagar Chawl, Sant Kakaiyya Marg, Dharavi, and found a young man filling empty bottles of premium Scotch whisky brands with locally manufactured liquor. Upon inquiry, he identified himself as Aniket Dilip Kashid, 23, residing in the same locality. Kashid was taken into custody.
Police seized a blue plastic bag containing four sealed bottles of Johnnie Walker Double Black and Red Label Scotch (1000 ml each), along with several empty bottles of various foreign brands, counterfeit labels, and other materials used to replicate authentic packaging worth Rs 4.32 lakhs.
Kashid, a habitual offender, admitted to running the operation and sourcing empty bottles, labels, and other supplies from Mahendra Pralhad Vaghela, a resident of Anna Nagar, Kumbharwada Road. Police also confiscated his Redmi mobile phone, which contained Vaghela’s contact number and other suspicious numbers under investigation.
Following Kashid’s confession, authorities proceeded to a room in Lakshmi Chawl, Anna Nagar, linked to Vaghela. They opened the room and found a large stockpile — 33 sealed bottles of various premium Scotch brands, along with sacks of empty bottles, labels, and packaging materials worth a total of Rs 3,77,900.
With this seizure, the total confiscated goods are valued at ₹4.32 lakhs. Vaghela, identified as the key supplier of raw materials and packaging for the counterfeit liquor, remains on the run. Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend him.
Kashid was booked under Sections 65 (d), (e), (f), 81, and 83 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949 — offences that are non-bailable. Authorities seek an extension of his custody to trace Vaghela, analyse seized mobile data, and track illicit financial transactions linked to the fake liquor sales.
The police stated that the racket not only posed serious health risks to consumers but also resulted in significant tax revenue losses for the govt of Maharashtra.