Ahmedabad: Police on Saturday night busted an illegal bottling unit allegedly producing counterfeit premium liquor by refilling empty branded bottles with cheaper liquor at a house in Shahpur. Four men were arrested during the raid, while the alleged mastermind remains absconding.A team of the Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB) raided a house in Modhwadani Pol in Shahpur, and arrested Mandip Bhavsar (40), Kailash Bodana (36), Dev Patel (22) and Devang Jani (28).During the raid, police seized 227 sealed liquor bottles, 127 empty branded bottles, 100 bottle caps, 118 labels, 22 litres of liquor stored in containers, flavouring agents, a hair dryer allegedly used to seal labels, five mobile phones and cash. The total value of the seized property was estimated at Rs 1.6 lakh.During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that the operation was being run by Vicky Chauhan, who is currently absconding. Bhavsar allegedly told investigators that he managed the unit for a monthly salary of Rs 35,000, while Bodana procured liquor and empty bottles for Rs 10,000 a month. Patel and Jani allegedly delivered the counterfeit bottles and were paid daily wages.Police have registered a case against the four arrested accused and the absconding kingpin under various provisions of the Gujarat Prohibition Act.
