In a significant crackdown on the illicit liquor trade, police in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district seized a massive consignment of English liquor worth nearly ₹17.7 lakh on Friday. The operation, which culminated in a dramatic vehicle chase, led to the recovery of 2,780.04 litres of premium foreign-brand alcohol.
Border Check Turns Into High-Speed Chase
The incident unfolded in the Bairiya police station area when a police team, led by Sub-Inspector Mayank Kumar, was conducting routine checks at the Dokati Bairiya border. Their vigilance paid off when they spotted a suspicious pickup truck approaching from the Dokati road direction.
As the officers moved to flag down the vehicle for a standard inspection, the driver's reaction immediately raised alarms. Instead of stopping, the driver suddenly accelerated and sped away, prompting the police to give chase. The fleeing pickup truck eventually veered off the road into a field near Sewadas Mathiya.
Abandoned Vehicle Reveals Massive Haul
With their escape routes effectively blocked by the pursuing police, the driver and any accomplices chose to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot into the surrounding area. A search of the abandoned pickup revealed the staggering scale of the illegal operation.
The police found the vehicle loaded with 315 cartons containing English liquor of various well-known brands. The total volume seized was precisely measured at 2,780.04 litres, with an estimated market value of ₹17,70,000 (seventeen lakh seventy thousand rupees).
Case Registered, Investigation Underway
Following the seizure, the police traced the registration of the pickup truck. The vehicle was found to be registered under the name of Nitesh Kumar, a resident of Badka Nagar Murli Chhapra in Ballia district.
Based on the evidence, the Bairiya police have formally registered a case. Legal action has been initiated against the vehicle owner, Nitesh Kumar, and the unidentified driver under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, specifically Section 60(1)/63 IPC, which deals with violations of excise laws pertaining to the possession and transport of intoxicating liquor.
The police are continuing their investigation to apprehend the absconding driver and to uncover the full network behind this large-scale attempt to smuggle expensive English liquor in the region.
