Tue Oct 14 16:53:06 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Liquor Smuggling Ring Busted in Uttar Pradesh Ahead of Bihar Elections**
**Lucknow, October 14, 2025:** The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended two individuals allegedly involved in smuggling a significant quantity of Indian-made foreign liquor, valued at approximately ₹60 lakh. The consignment was en route from Punjab to Bihar, a state currently under prohibition and gearing up for upcoming elections.
The arrests of Bhima Ram and Yogesh Kumar, both residents of Barmer, Rajasthan, were made on Monday night near Kandharapur in the Azamgarh district, along the Purvanchal Expressway.
According to the STF, the operation was based on intelligence regarding an inter-state liquor smuggling network operating in eastern Uttar Pradesh. A joint operation involving the STF’s Varanasi field unit, local police, and the Excise Department resulted in the seizure of 537 cartons of liquor.
Authorities believe the liquor was transported in a container truck bearing falsified registration plates. Preliminary investigations suggest the accused were working for Ashu, a Chandigarh-based liquor trader, who allegedly supplied the liquor in Punjab and provided fake documents labeling the consignment as snacks and chips worth ₹12 lakh to conceal the illegal cargo. The intended recipient of the illicit liquor was reportedly a Bihar-based smuggler named Rahul.
Further investigation revealed that the truck’s chassis and registration numbers had been tampered with to avoid detection. The legitimate owner of the truck, located in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, confirmed that his vehicle was parked at his location, confirming the fraudulent nature of the seized vehicle’s documentation.
A case has been registered at Kandharapur police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Excise Act. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover the full extent of the smuggling operation and apprehend all individuals involved.
**Original Text Summary:**
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested two alleged smugglers and seized ₹60 lakh worth of Indian-made foreign liquor being smuggled from Punjab to Bihar. The arrests occurred near Azamgarh, along the Purvanchal Expressway. The accused, Bhima Ram and Yogesh Kumar from Rajasthan, were reportedly working for a Chandigarh-based trader, Ashu, who used fake documents to conceal the liquor. The liquor was destined for a Bihar-based smuggler named Rahul. The vehicle had tampered chassis and registration numbers.
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