Raids conducted by the state excise department reveal that illegal sale of liquor bottles meant to be sold exclusively in the military canteen rose at the year-end.
Officials seized 64 such bottles worth Rs21,000 and arrested four youth, including two ex-servicemen, on December 27 and 30.
Ramsevak Ramchandra Sharan, 48, an ex-serviceman and a resident of Shreenathnagar in Ghorpadi, was arrested along with two other suspects, Rajupratap Shelke, 44, a resident of Hadaspar, and Kunal Prakash Alurkar, 24, a resident of Ghorpadi.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by inspector Shivshankar Patil, sub-inspectors Ramesh Birajdar, Ashok Katkam and others laid a trap near the suspect’s residence.
On December 30, the police arrested Rajkumar Ramchandra Salunke, 42, a resident of Wadgoansheri, also an ex-serviceman.
Sharan had been arrested on October 8 for carrying out similar activities. He used to purchase liquor bottles from canteens and sell them at a higher price outside. Following his arrest, the sleuths obtained more information, which led to more arrests.
According to Patil, the liquor was purchased by Sharan from central stores department (CSD) canteens meant for defence personnel at a low cost and later sold at a higher price outside.
