Tue Aug 26 13:44:03 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**Telangana Excise Task Force Busts ₹50 Lakh Fake Liquor Label Ring, Two Arrested**

**HYDERABAD, August 26, 2025** – The State Task Force (STF) of the Telangana Excise and Prohibition Department has dismantled a sophisticated counterfeit liquor label manufacturing unit, seizing equipment worth nearly ₹50 lakh and arresting two men in Kushaiguda, Hyderabad.

Acting on a tip-off, officials raided a premises in the early hours of Monday, uncovering a clandestine operation producing fake government liquor labels. The seized equipment included a high-end colour label printer valued at ₹30 lakh, alongside other machinery worth ₹20 lakh. Authorities identified the arrested individuals as Gaddameedi Prakash and Niwavat Rajesh, both residents of Kushaiguda. Another suspect, Gaddameedi Naveen Goud, is believed to be running the unit from his residence.

This operation follows a similar bust two months ago at a rice mill in Suryapet, where a fake liquor unit was discovered, revealing a larger network. Investigations into that case led authorities to Charanjit Singh, who had allegedly purchased spirit worth ₹4 crore, tracing it back to various states. The current counterfeit label unit was uncovered by following the trail through bank transactions related to that initial seizure.

According to police reports, the ring was supplying fake labels not only within Telangana but also to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The key raw material, identified as spirit, was reportedly sourced through Krishna Industries in Hyderabad and distributed to numerous states for widespread adulteration of liquor. Investigations are ongoing.

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