The state excise department in Nashik is preparing to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against repeat offenders involved in the manufacturing and sale of illicit liquor. Officials have stated that this move is specifically aimed at dismantling the organized networks that sustain the spurious liquor trade, which continues to operate despite frequent raids and arrests.
Strict Action Against Networks
Santosh Zagade, superintendent of the Nashik state excise department, said, "We are now planning to take strict action against the manufacturers and sellers of spurious liquor. While we have taken action against one such person under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act in the recent past, we are now contemplating action under MCOCA because these people work in a chain and are repeat offenders."
Authorities have highlighted that the illegal liquor trade remains a persistent challenge, with hundreds of cases registered annually by both the excise department and police. Consumption of such illicit liquor poses serious health risks to the public.
Challenges in Enforcement
Officers have noted that tracking illicit brewing units is extremely difficult, as they are often located in remote hilly areas, allowing operators to evade raids. "On spotting law enforcement officials, the liquor makers quickly abandon their equipment and flee, leaving behind the liquor and the chemicals used in production," officials explained. They added that bootleggers maintain local informants in villages and towns to alert them in advance about possible enforcement action.
Despite repeated crackdowns, officials admitted that arrests alone have failed to deter the accused. This has prompted the move to invoke stricter laws like MCOCA to break the organized network behind the trade.
Hope for Stronger Deterrence
Officials expressed hope that stronger legal action would act as a significant deterrent and help curb the menace of illicit liquor in the region. The department is now focusing on targeting the entire chain of offenders rather than just individual operators.
