Punjab Excise Department's Ludhiana East Range has cracked down on a premium liquor refilling racket, exposing a sophisticated operation that sought to dupe consumers and defraud the state exchequer. Acting on specific intelligence, enforcement teams carried out swift raids on August 30th, unearthing the large-scale scam and arresting key accused on the spot.

In the raid, officers discovered that empty bottles of top imported brands, such as Glenlivet, Black Dog, Chivas Regal, Johnnie Walker Gold Label, Hendrick’s Gin and Godawan, were being refilled with cheaper liquor. The operation, investigators said, was designed to pass off low-quality IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) and PML (Punjab Medium Liquor) as high-end liquor.

The raids were conducted under the overall guidance of Excise Commissioner IAS Jitendra Jorwal, with direct supervision from Tarsem Chand, (Deputy Commissioner Patiala Zone), Dr. Shivani Gupta, (Assistant Commissioner Ludhiana East), and Excise Officers Ashok Kumar and Amit Goyal. 

Their coordinated action, supported by Excise Intelligence staff, Excise Police, and the local police, led to the arrests of Amit Vij (S/o Gulshan Kumar Vij) and Pankaj Saini (S/o Jai Chand Saini). Officials seized 106 empty bottles, 39 refilled premium bottles, bottling accessories, and a Swift Dzire car (PB10FP0804) used in the operation. An FIR (No. 108, dated August 30, 2025) was registered at Police Station Division No. 3, Ludhiana.

Authorities confirmed that the racket not only endangered public health but also caused substantial revenue losses to Punjab’s excise collections. Investigations are ongoing to trace both backward supply channels and forward distribution networks of the scam.

Separate Recovery in Samrala

In a parallel operation the same day, the Excise team raided Village Burma under Police Station Samrala. Vikramjeet Singh, a local resident, was caught with 60 bottles of illicit liquor branded “For Sale in Chandigarh Only.” The haul included 24 bottles of PML Marka Santra and 36 bottles of PML Marka Dilber Saunfia. Police registered a separate case under the Punjab Excise Act, 1914.

Senior officials of the excise department has said that enforcement drives and surprise checks will continue, with strict action against those involved in liquor smuggling and refilling rackets.

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