Rayagada Police Seize 356 Litres of Foreign Liquor, Two Arrested
Ramanaguda police in Rayagada district achieved a major breakthrough in curbing illegal liquor trade by seizing 356 litres of foreign liquor being smuggled in a Bolero vehicle.
Acting on a tip‑off during routine patrolling, officers intercepted the vehicle bearing registration number OD‑07F‑9444 and recovered liquor of various brands.
Two individuals — Anuj Kumar Yadav of Bihar and Ganesh Himirika of Debadala village under Chandili police station — were arrested in connection with the smuggling.
Investigations revealed that the consignment was being transported from Rayagada towards the Gajapati district.
Police have registered a case under Ramanaguda PS Case No. 2 and produced the accused in court.
Authorities are probing further to trace the source of the liquor, its intended recipients, and other members of the smuggling network.
Notably, Anuj Kumar Yadav had earlier been arrested for supplying fake liquor in the district but was out on bail.
His alleged return to the illegal trade has raised concerns among local traders, who complain that the flourishing fake liquor business is hurting genuine dealers.
There are also allegations that consumption of spurious liquor has led to fatalities in the region, while enforcement agencies face criticism for lax monitoring.
The latest seizure underscores the growing challenge of tackling the illicit liquor trade in Odisha.
