Varanasi: Chandauli Kotwali police on Tuesday busted an alleged interstate liquor smuggling gang and arrested 33 people, including 18 women.Police raided the closed Chandauli Restaurant in Ward No. 5 and recovered 520.7 litres of illegal liquor. The seizure included 2,234 bottles, tetra packs and pouches of various brands. The operation began when inspector-in-charge Triveni Singh and his team were checking suspicious persons and vehicles near Sakaldiha Tiraha. Police signalled two men on a motorcycle to stop. On seeing the police, the rider turned the motorcycle around and fled, while the pillion rider slipped and fell. He was caught and identified as Sumant Kumar, a resident of Vaishali district in Bihar. Liquor was recovered from his backpack.During questioning, Sumant allegedly told police about a large stock of liquor stored inside the closed Chandauli Restaurant. Police then raided the premises and found several men and women packing liquor bottles in dim light. All 33 people present were arrested.According to police, the gang allegedly evaded detection by wrapping liquor bottles in newspapers and sealing them with transparent tape.Police said the men carried the bottles in backpacks and cloth bags, while the women transported them in purses, suitcases, concealed among clothing and, in some cases, taped to their bodies.A case has been registered under the Excise Act.Chandauli Sadar CO Namendra Rawat said the seized liquor was being prepared for transport to Bihar.
