Kolkata Police busts fake foreign liquor cap racket, 28,000 seized, 8 arrested

Acting on credible intelligence, Kolkata Police intercepted a TATA ACE vehicle (WB 03 C 4453) near Mahajati Sadan on Central Avenue around 2 PM on Sunday. Upon inspection, officers found approximately 28,000 counterfeit bottle caps of various branded foreign liquors. Four individuals, including the driver and vehicle owner, were detained on the spot. A case was registered at Jorasanko Police Station (Case No. 40/18.02.25) under sections 61(2)/318(4)/338/336(3)/340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 63 & 65 of the Copyright Act, leading to their immediate arrest.

Further investigation revealed that the fake bottle caps were manufactured at a unit in Dankuni. Based on this information, a night-long raid was conducted at the location, where officers discovered large quantities of additional counterfeit caps along with machinery used for production. Four more individuals, including the owner of the illegal unit, were arrested. Authorities sealed the manufacturing facility and seized all equipment used in the operation.

The arrested individuals have been identified as follows: Md Shamim (27) of Anwar Bagan, Kamarhati (Driver), Rajesh Yadav (32) of Agarpara, Khardah (Vehicle Owner), Ali Ahmed (25) of Dashubabu Bagan, Kamarhati, and Santosh Agarwal (58) of Lake Temple Road, Kolkata (Receiver)—all of whom were apprehended from the intercepted vehicle. Additionally, Amit Biswas (40) of Prafulla Nagar, Belghoria (Factory Owner), Amit Bera of Amodpur, Paschim Medinipur, Sumit Dutta (26) of Purba Kalitala, Nona Chandanpukur, and Pintu Nath @ Sukumar of Lake View Park, Baranagar were arrested from the Dankuni facility during the raid.

Authorities have stated that the accused were supplying these counterfeit bottle caps to multiple fake or contaminated liquor manufacturers. Further operations are planned to identify and dismantle the larger network involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit foreign liquor. Investigators are tracing potential buyers and suppliers connected to the racket, and additional searches are expected across different locations in the coming days.

All eight accused were produced before the court today. Law enforcement agencies continue their probe to track the full scale of operations and prevent counterfeit liquor distribution. Authorities have urged consumers to remain vigilant and report any suspected counterfeit liquor sales in the city.