Excise department in action mode: Liquor smuggler arrested in Ludhiana, empty bottles destroyed

January 13, 2026

The Excise Department in Ludhiana, Punjab, has taken major action as part of a special campaign against illegal and counterfeit liquor. The department successfully apprehended a smuggler during a roadblock while simultaneously conducting checks at marriage palaces to prevent the misuse of alcohol at wedding ceremonies.

During the roadblock, 12 bottles of illegal liquor were recovered from a young man.

Giving details, Dr. Shivani Gupta, ACX Ludhiana East, said that acting on a tip-off, EI Brajesh Malhotra, along with the Excise Police and the police team from Sadar Khanna police station, set up a special checkpoint on January 12th. During this operation, a suspicious vehicle, number PB-49A 2094, was stopped and searched, resulting in the recovery of 12 bottles of Iconic White brand liquor. The recovered liquor was only authorized for sale in Punjab, but it did not have a QR code.

The accused has been identified as Budh Ram, son of a resident of Kotlepur village, Samrala tehsil. The process of filing an FIR against the accused at Sadar Khanna police station has been initiated, and the vehicle has been seized.

Meanwhile, empty bottles were destroyed at marriage palaces.
As part of the same campaign, EI Major Singh led surprise inspections of various marriage palaces under the Payal circle. To prevent violations of rules and the illegal reuse of liquor bottles, empty liquor bottles found at the palaces were destroyed on the spot. Liquor shops in the area were also inspected to ensure full compliance with excise regulations.