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Telangana Govt Raises Liquor Prices, IMFL Bottles Dearer by ₹10–₹40

May 20, 2025, 3:00 am

The Telangana government raised prices of liquor brands from ₹10 to ₹40 per bottle with effect from Monday, people aware of the development said.

Decision by Beverages Corporation, Excise Department

The Telangana Beverages Corporation Limited (TGBCL) took the decision to hike the liquor prices in sync with the policy decision of the state prohibition and excise department. According to the new prices, Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and foreign liquor brands 180 ml quarter bottle will be priced ₹10 higher, the 350 ml half-bottle has increased by a ₹20 increase, and the 750ml full bottle by ₹40.

There has not been any rise in the rate of low-value ordinary liquor or ready-to-consume items such as wine or breezer or beer. There will be an effect on more than 2,000 liquor brands across the state and all the retail liquor shops have been ordered to display new rates.

Wine Dealers Say No Profit Boost for Retailers in Telangana

“The state government has not increased the base price of the IMFL brands, but only increased special excise cess (SEC), which will be added to the final bill of the liquor sale. As such, there will be no additional benefit to the liquor dealers,” Telangana wine dealers’ association president D Venkateshwar Rao. He further said that the state government is expected to generate an additional ₹150-170 crore in monthly revenue through the price revision. “We don’t get any hike in our profit margin of 15-20%,” he said.

He said six months ago, the government enforced a similar increase in beer prices by 15%. The price of Kingfisher Ultra beer (650ml) went up from ₹210 to ₹250, following a pressure from the United Breweries Limited (UBL). “But, there was not expected increase in the sales of beer this summer,” the association president said.

Liquor Revenue Projections for 2025-26

According to the budget estimates of 2025-26, the state government had a revenue of ₹25,617 crore in 2024-25 for the excise department. In 2025-26, it was estimated to realize a revenue of ₹27,623 crore from liquor, excluding state goods and services tax and liquor sale cess.

“The decision to increase the cess comes in the wake of a series of high-level meetings aimed at boosting state revenues and setting departmental targets,” an official of the excise department said.

Telangana Liquor Rates Higher Than Andhra Pradesh

The Telangana liquor prices are also continuing on the higher side as against its neighboring Andhra Pradesh. For instance, Ballantine blended scotch whisky bottle (750 ml) sells for ₹4,150 in Telangana, as against ₹2,600 in Andhra Pradesh. Likewise, a full-bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label currently retails at ₹4,690 in Telangana and no more than ₹2,720 in Andhra Pradesh.

“However, in Andhra Pradesh, too, the prices of all categories of IMFL went up by 15% since February this year due to increase in additional retail excise tax. Yet, the cost of liquor in Andhra Pradesh is lesser compared to Telangana,” the official added.

BRS Criticises Congress Government Over Excise Dependence

Reacting to the price hike of liquor bottles, senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and former finance minister T Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for depending on the excise revenue to run the administration. “Is this government only dependent on beers and bars as all its efforts are aimed at filling the coffers by increasing the liquor revenue,” he questioned. He said it appears Telangana was rising only in the excise income by increasing the prices of liquor.

Maharashtra, Jharkhand Break 2019 Record; EC Seizes Rs 1,000 Crore in Poll Raids

November 20, 2024, 4:28 pm

The Election Commission has reported that enforcement agencies have seized over Rs 1,000 crore worth of cash, liquor, and other inducements during the ongoing elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and across 14 states where bypolls are being held. Of this amount, Rs 858 crore has been confiscated from Maharashtra and Jharkhand, marking a sevenfold increase compared to the 2019 assembly elections. In 2019, Maharashtra recorded seizures worth Rs 103.61 crore, while Jharkhand’s total was Rs 18.76 crore.

The second round of voting in Jharkhand is scheduled for November 20, coinciding with Maharashtra’s polling date. Votes for both states will be counted on November 23.

In Maharashtra, significant seizures have been made across all districts, surpassing figures from previous assembly elections. Notable operations include the confiscation of Rs 3.70 crore in cash from a suspicious Jeep in the Wada police station area of Palghar District. Additionally, in the Jamod Assembly Constituency of Buldhana district, authorities seized 4,500 kg of ganja plants valued at Rs 4.51 crore. In Raigad, silver bars worth Rs 5.20 crore were confiscated.

The Election Commission’s intensified focus on curbing the influence of money in elections has led to this substantial increase in seizures. Chief Election Officer Rajiv Kumar has instructed all officials and observers to maintain strict vigilance over the next two days and to prevent the distribution of any inducements until polling concludes.

Jharkhand has also witnessed record seizures, with a particular emphasis on curbing illicit mining activities. In Rajmahal Assembly Constituency of Sahibganj district, illegal mining materials worth ₹2.26 crore were seized, along with the machinery involved. In Daltonganj, authorities confiscated 687 kg of poppy straw, while in Hazaribagh, 48.18 kg of marijuana was seized.

In Rajasthan, enforcement agencies intercepted 449 cartons of liquor concealed behind layers of potato boxes in Nagaur, during transit from one neighboring state to another.

The surge in seizures is attributed to an extensive monitoring process initiated months before the election announcements. This process includes sensitizing and reviewing enforcement agencies for coordinated monitoring, identifying expenditure-sensitive constituencies, ensuring adequate field teams, providing training on expenditure monitoring systems, and appointing experienced officers as Expenditure Observers.

Also read: India’s Insurance Market to Reach $11 Trillion by 2047

The Election Commission has also invested in information technology to enhance monitoring efforts. The in-house Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) facilitates real-time monitoring and information sharing among multiple agencies, serving as a broader deterrent against electoral malpractices.

Watch: Crowd Loots Liquor Bottles ‘Police Ke Naak Ke Neeche Se’ In Andhra Pradesh

September 11, 2024, 11:06 am

A planned destruction drive in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, intended to destroy seized liquor bottles worth over ₹50 lakh, took a chaotic turn when locals seized the opportunity to loot the alcohol. A viral video capturing the frenzy has spread across social media, drawing both amusement and concern over the lack of crowd control during the event.

Crowd Loots Liquor Bottles Despite Police Intervention

The incident unfolded when police, under the instructions of Guntur SP S. Satish Kumar, lined up the confiscated liquor bottles at Nalla Cheruvu dumping yard for a public relations shoot ahead of the planned destruction. These bottles were collected during the recent Assembly Elections. However, once the news spread about the impending destruction, locals rushed to the scene and began grabbing bottles before the police could destroy them.

WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:

Police ko liquor disposal Karna tha aur Andhra ke logon ne loot macha di.
?? pic.twitter.com/2t5M1nCaJt

— Ashish (@error040290) September 10, 2024

Despite repeated warnings and even physical intervention from the police, the crowd remained undeterred. The video shows people rushing past police officers, some even enduring baton strikes (lathis) in their efforts to grab bottles of liquor.

Police Struggle to Regain Control

The viral footage depicts officers attempting to stop the looters, but with little success. As some individuals continued to flee with their spoils, others defiantly argued with the officers, refusing to return the bottles. Though some people did eventually place the bottles back, the majority of the looters got away.

Police have now launched an investigation to track down those involved in the looting.

Social Media Response

The viral video garnered widespread attention online, with many people reacting humorously to the chaotic scene. One X user commented, “The last guy literally debated two police officers and convinced them to let him go with the bottle.” Another remarked, “Locals thought they had organised a liquor langar,” while a third user humorously noted, “When life is stranger than fiction.”

Despite the humorous reactions, the event has raised questions about how public destruction drives are managed, particularly when the items being destroyed hold significant value.

Looking Ahead: An Investigation Underway

With the footage gaining millions of views and social media abuzz with jokes, the Guntur police are under pressure to identify the perpetrators. An investigation has been initiated to locate those who successfully looted the bottles and determine whether additional security measures could have been implemented to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

Police crackdown on liquor in Begusarai: Two arrested in raid

May 22, 2023, 2:44 pm

Authorities in Bihar conducted a raid in Bhagwanpur village of Begusarai district on Monday, resulting in the arrest of two individuals who were allegedly found in possession of liquor. It is important to note that Bihar is a state where the sale of alcohol has been banned since 2016 according to the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016.

“We conducted a raid in Bhagwanpur village and detained 2 persons with liquor,” said Pramod Kumar sub-inspector, Excise. The police said the raid was interfered with by some miscreants who pelted stones and bricks at the police personnel. And the police team had to fire shots in the air in order to contain the situation.
“Some people interfered and tried to stop us. They pelted stones and bricks. We had to fire shots into the air. No one was injured in the firing,” Pramod Kumar said.

According to a police official, in March of this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) discovered 14 bottles of liquor during a raid at the residence of SP Sinha, the proprietor of the renowned Maurya Hotel in Patna. Following the recovery, the ED officials handed over the liquor carton to the Rupaspur police station. Subsequently, a case was registered at the Roopspur police station under relevant sections of the Prohibition and Excise Act, as stated by the officer.

3 dead after consuming liquor in Chhattisgarh

May 15, 2023, 4:14 pm

As per the police information on Monday, three people, including an army man, died allegedly after consuming country-made liquor in the Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh.

The incident occurred this morning at Rogda village within the jurisdiction of Navagarh police station. The deceased individuals have been identified as Paras Sahu, Nandlal Kashyap (a soldier), and Satish Kashyap.

According to a police officer, the trio became unconscious after consuming the alcohol that Satish Kashyap had purchased for the “Harprasad” celebration in their village.

They were immediately taken to a hospital in Navagarh but were subsequently declared dead. In response to the incident report, the Navagarh police promptly arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation. The bodies have been sent for autopsy.

Vijay Agrawal, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for Janjgir-Champa, stated that the exact cause of death will be determined following the investigation.

He further mentioned that a team of doctors and experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory were dispatched to the location for further examination.

26 lakh litres of liquor seized in UP in 2022-2023

April 11, 2023, 5:02 pm

The statewide crusade in Uttar Pradesh against illicit liquor under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath has brought the desired results.

According to a press statement on Tuesday, the team made up of the Excise Department, Police, and district administration has so far been successful in seizing 26.68 lakh litres of illegal alcohol while also detaining 29,701 suspects.

According to the press release, fast and strong action was taken with immediate effect in such cases because the Chief Minister was committed to putting an end to the criminal trade in alcohol and drugs. According to Excise Commissioner Senthil Pandian C, the department has strictly prohibited the production of counterfeit alcohol, and no unfortunate incidents related to the consumption of illicit alcohol occurred during the previous fiscal year.

The Excise Department, Police, and District Administration worked together to carry out seven special enforcement drives during holidays and special occasions. The departments of GST and Transportation also helped make this campaign successful.

Under special enforcement operations, 2,10,465 raids were conducted, 27,491 cases were registered, and 7.52 lakh litres of illicit liquor were seized. As many as 9,380 accused persons involved in the illegal liquor trade were arrested, and cases were registered against them under the Excise Act as well as other relevant sections, whereas 225 vehicles used for the transportation of illegal liquor were seized.

UP: Police seizes 6600 litres of liquor worth lakhs

April 4, 2023, 1:07 pm

Uttar Pradesh police on Monday seized 6600 liters of liquor from a truck heading to Bihar.
According to the police, the truck was coming from Haryana’s Hisar district.

“We received information about a truck carrying liquor going to Bihar. We then seized a truck that was covered with rotten garlic. During the search, 6600 liters of liquor kept in 625 cases were recovered. The liquor is worth 70 lakhs and the price of the truck is around 30 lakhs. This truck had started from Hisar”, said SSP Sanjay Kumar Verma, Etawah.
The truck went to Bihar, Odisha, and Bengal earlier with the goods, said the police.
The police have registered a case and the investigation is underway.
Further details on the matter are awaited.

A ban on the sale and consumption of liquor was imposed in the state of Bihar by the state government in April 2016.
The ban was imposed after the state reported many deaths after consuming spurious alcohol and also domestic violence cases have been on the rise in the state.

Liquor was seized from the Amrapali Express passing through Muzaffarpur railway station

February 20, 2023, 8:14 am

Two trolley bags, a backpack and a satchel were recovered from near the toilet of bogie number b1 of train number 15708 Amrapali Express, which arrived at Muzaffarpur railway station platform number two. GRP station in-charge Dinesh Sahu said that the GRP team reached Muzaffarpur station, checked in B1 bogie of Amrapali Express and recovered several trolley bags in unclaimed condition. Out of all the trolley bags recovered on the train, 86 bottles of foreign liquor were seized. The total recovered liquor is 22.140 litres. A case has been registered against the unknown and further action is being taken.

Delhi Police busts smuggling gang; recovers 626 bottles of liquor

January 25, 2023, 7:10 pm

Delhi Police busts ‘Pushpa’-movie-inspired liquor smuggling gang on Wednesday and recovered 626 bottles of illicit liquor from Delhi’s Sanjay Gandhi Trasport (SGT) Nagar. Meanwhile, a few plastic drums were brought by the two rickshaw pullers to a transport company in SGT Nagar and produced two fake bills when they were asked for details they refused to disclose the information and fled.

Farmers Clashed With Police; Protest Against Liquor Factory Escalates

December 20, 2022, 4:30 pm

Farmers indulged in violence with the police as they continue to protest outside a liquor factory in Ferozepur’s Zira In Punjab. Protestors said the factory will damage the sources of the area and impact the local habitat. People demanded a ban on the factory while protesting.

The protest began on July 24 which marked 146 days shut down for the factory until now. Several villagers from nearby areas sieged the main gate. The protestors blamed the unit for polluting the environment including groundwater, leading to low yield from the fields.

The dispute is ongoing around Malbros International Private Limited, an alcohol-making unit at Mansurwal village of the Zira assembly segment in Ferozepur.

Illegal liquor consignment recovered in Muzaffarpur

December 19, 2022, 11:21 am

Consignment of liquor caught in Muzaffarpur district. In the last four days at three places, illegal liquor consignment has been recovered. Earlier illegal liquor was recovered from the Maniyari police station area, and Sadar police station area and now a consignment of 950 liters of liquor has been recovered from the Gaighat police station area. While taking action in this case, police arrested a smuggler. However, more details are awaited.

Delhi Excise policy scam: CBI files chargesheet against 7 accused

November 25, 2022, 3:15 pm

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against seven defendants in the Delhi Excise Policy Scam on Friday, marking a significant breakthrough in the investigation.

A top CBI official stated that seven people, including two government officials and five private individuals, were included in the chargesheet. Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Pillai, Sameer Mahendru, Gautam Mootha, Kuldeep Singh, and Narendra Singh are the defendants listed in the chargesheet.

He continued that Narendra Singh was the Assistant Commissioner (Excise) at the time, and Kuldeep Singh was the Deputy Commissioner (Excise).

“It is the first FIR in the case, and the investigation is on against other persons named in the FIR. As more facts emerge, a Supplementary Charge Sheet will be filed,” said the CBI official.

The trial court’s decision to grant bail to AAP communication strategist Vijay Nair and Hyderabad-based businessman Abhishek Boinpally was challenged earlier on Thursday by the CBI in a petition to the Delhi High Court.

Following the arrest of Sameer Mahendru, the managing director of the Delhi-based Indospirit Group, a distributor of alcoholic beverages, in this case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at over thirty locations in Delhi and Punjab in October.

Manish Sisodia, the deputy chief minister of Delhi, Arva Gopi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner Anand Tiwari, and Assistant Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar are among those charged in the case.

Other defendants include Manoj Rai, a former Pernod Ricard employee, Amandeep Dhal, the director of Brindco Sales, and Buddy Retail, the director. Sunny Marwah, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, and Arjun Pandey are authorised signatories for Mahadev Liquors, along with Amit Arora and Dinesh Arora.

The ED and the CBI claimed that improper actions were taken when changing the excise policy, that licence holders received improper favors, that the licence fee was waived or reduced, and that the L-1 licence was extended without the competent authority’s consent. In order to avoid detection, the beneficiaries made fictitious entries in their books of accounts and diverted “illegal” gains to the charged officials.

It was claimed that, in violation of the established procedures, the Excise Department had chosen to return the successful tenderer’s approximately Rs 30 crore earnest money deposit. Despite the lack of an enabling provision, COVID-19 permitted a waiver of the tendering licence payments from December 28, 2021, to January 27, 2022.

The FIR, which was initiated on a referral from the Union Home Ministry following a recommendation from Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, claimed that this resulted in a loss to the exchequer of Rs 144.36 crore.

Man transporting illicit liquor from Haryana to Delhi arrested by the Delhi police

September 26, 2022, 11:21 am

A man has been arrested by the Delhi police on Sunday for transporting illicit liquor in a truck. The truck was painted with a logo of Mother Dairy to mislead the authorities. The truck which carrying the contraband from Haryana to Delhi had 25,000 quarter (180ml) and 600 full (750ml) bottles of liquor which has been recovered by the police.Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Manoj C identified the arrested man as 45-year-old Nishan Singh, the driver of the truck and a resident of Punjab’s Tarn Taran Sahib. He was accompanied by his 21-year-old helper Vikash alias Chapta, a resident of Bahadurgarh in Haryana, who is yet to be arrested.Police said that they laid a trap as they received an information from their sources that a huge quantity of illicit liquor would be sent to Delhi NCR via National Highway 8 in a truck. Around 2am, they stopped a truck which looked like it ostensibly belonged to Mother Dairy, which manufactures, markets and sells milk, dairy products, edible oil and fruits and vegetables. However, when the team checked the truck, they discovered 600 cartons of illicit liquor which was for sale in Haryana. Police confirmed that the truck did not belong to Mother Dairy.Police said that the truck’s number plate was fake; they discovered its actual number after checking the engine number. They then arrested Nishan Singh and registered a case.During interrogation, Nishan Singh allegedly disclosed that he and one Vikash work for one Yogi (age unknown), who is also a resident of Bahadurgarh area, and the duo supply illicit liquor on his directions. DCP Manoj said, “Nishan was provided the said truck by Yogi’s driver near Manesar and was to supply the said liquor in Delhi as per Yogi’s instructions. We are making efforts to arrest others involved in the racket.”

Man in kerela set his mother on fire over liquor dispute

September 22, 2022, 1:04 pm

In a horrifying event in the Thrissur district of Kerala, a man allegedly lit his 75-year-old mother on fire in a horrifying event after she refused to give him money to buy alcohol. The incident happened close to Punnayurkulam.

Thalekkattil Veettil Sreemat, a resident of Chemmanur, has been identified as the victim. She was severely burned during the attack. The victim has been taken to a Kochi private hospital.

According to a report in the Times of India, the police have detained the accused, 55-year-old Manoj, in relation to the incident.

According to information provided to police, the accused routinely beat his mother when she refused to pay for alcohol. But on Tuesday night, he doused the woman in gasoline and lit her ablaze.

The police claimed that the victim had provided them with her statement. Police arrived on the scene quickly after the incident and admitted Sreemati to the hospital.

The woman was initially taken to Kunnamkulam hospital, from which point she was transported to Thrissur. She was shifted to the hospital in Kochi.

Bihar cop shot by criminal, dies

September 7, 2022, 4:07 pm

A police constable on his way back from searching for a liquor smuggler in Bihar’s Siwan district was shot dead by a crowd around 2 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to police, the shooting occurred while the police team was returning home after following up on some leads about liquor smuggling in Siwan’s Gyaspur village.

The team came to a halt when they noticed a group of four or five people sitting on the roadside on the outskirts of the village. When the team asked them to identify themselves, they attempted to flee, according to police.

“When the team went after them, the criminals opened fire and escaped,” said Rajesh Kumar, in-charge station house officer of Siswan police station.

Constable Valmiki Kumar Yadav (39), a Patna rural resident, was taken to the Siwan Sadar hospital with gunshot wounds but died before arriving, according to doctors.

According to police, a local resident, Mohammad Sirajuddin (55), who stepped out of his house after hearing the shooting outside, was also injured by a bullet. He was also admitted to the hospital and is now safe.

A special task force (STF) team has been dispatched to Gyaspur village to conduct raids and apprehend the criminals, according to police.

Jitendra Singh Gangwar, the additional director general of police (headquarters), stated that the Siwan superintendent of police (SP) and the Saran range deputy inspector general (DIG) are camping at the scene and overseeing the action.

An investigation has started and raids are being conducted to nab the culprits. No arrests have been made so far,” Gangwar added.

According to a police officer, the constable’s death has sparked deep resentment among the force, which wants the police leadership to order a crackdown on criminals in the district.