The Ludhiana Police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated luxury liquor syndicate that allegedly refilled discarded premium bottles with cheap alcohol to sell at high-end prices to bars and vendors across the region.
Arrest Made in Special Cell Operation
The Special Cell of Ludhiana police arrested Manmeet Singh, a local bar employee, after discovering more than 500 empty bottles of iconic brands, including Glenlivet, Chivas Regal, and Hendrick's Gin. Authorities are now searching for three accomplices who remain at large.
How the Syndicate Operated
Investigators say the group sourced empty bottles from scrap dealers and used specialised machinery brought from Kolkata to reseal them. This process made the counterfeit products nearly indistinguishable from genuine imports. The illicit operation reportedly supplied several restaurants, liquor vends, and bars across Ludhiana, Nawanshahr, and Jalandhar.
Assistant sub-inspector Raj Kumar stated that the suspects had confessed to refilling the luxury containers with low-grade spirits to maximize profits. In addition to the empty bottles, police seized 16 litres of bulk liquor stored in canisters intended for bottling.
Legal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Bar employee Manmeet Singh faces multiple charges under the Excise Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police are working to trace the full extent of the distribution network and identify all outlets that may have received the counterfeit liquor.
This bust highlights the ongoing battle against counterfeit alcohol trade in Punjab, which poses serious health risks to consumers and undermines legitimate businesses.
