Over 10,000 Illegal Liquor Bottles Seized In Andhra's Guntur

AMARAVATI: In a massive haul, at least 10,000 bottles of illegal liquor have been seized from a water tanker in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district. Eight men involved in the supply of the illegal liquors have also been arrested.

Andhra Special Enforcement Bureau seized the tanker at Munagodu Mandal in Amaravati region, a leading channel reported.

The bottles were transported from Hyderabad to Amaravati.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday reduced prices of liquor by Rs 10 to Rs 280 in two categories apart from beer, to bring parity in rates with neighbouring states like Telangana and Karnataka to check smuggling. Also, the rate reduction is aimed at preventing habitual tipplers from reportedly consuming hand sanitisers that in recent days caused many deaths in the state.

However, the government enhanced the price of "premium and super premium" liquor to "rationalize" the rates so that the overall hike remains at 75 per cent, as effected in October last year and again in May this year, citing the overall revenue loss caused by coronavirus pandemic.

But, the government did not suffer any loss in revenue from Excise despite the dip in volumes because of the liquor price hike.

"The percentage of liquor smuggled into AP from other states increased by 2012 between May 16 and July 31 and that of beer by 1,251 per cent. As many as 10,977 cases were booked and 14,478 people were arrested for smuggling liquor from other states," Revenue (Commercial Taxes and Excise) Special Chief Secretary Rajat Bhargava said, as quoted by a news agency.