THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise officials have busted a racket dealing in spurious foreign liquor near Kazhakkoottam. They seized approximately 400 litres of spurious liquor, 100 litres of spirit and chemicals from an illegal bottling plant near Kazhakkoottam in the wee hours of Monday. Things began moving on Sunday night after a car sped off without stopping when Excise officials signalled the driver to stop. The car was stopped after it rammed a two-wheeler rider at Vellanchira, Panavur. On further inspection, Excise officials found 250 bottles of liquor stashed away in the vehicle. Two men who were in the car, Vipin alias Manu, 23, of Mangalapuram; and Sajeendran, 44, were arrested following the discovery. A third man, Shibu alias Chakkummmodu Shibu, however, escaped. Hot on Shibu’s trail, Excise officials arrived at the illegal bottling plant, where they discovered around 400 litres of spurious liquor kept in bottles, the spirit, caramel essence, packing materials and hundreds of empty bottles, apparently kept ready to be filled with the spurious foreign liquor. The gang was reportedly reusing old liquor bottles for their racket.The Excise Department has stepped up search for Shibu, who is believed to be the leader of the gang. Assistant Excise Commissioner Suresh Kumar, Joint Excise Commissioner Shihabudeen and other top Excise officials led the operation.
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