Delhi’s excise department has arrested five people in Fatehpur Beri, South Delhi, for allegedly selling liquor smuggled from Haryana at farmhouse parties, seizing alcohol valued at nearly Rs 10 lakh and four vehicles, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi.
The operation was carried out after the department received information that liquor brought from Haryana was being supplied at parties organised in farmhouses in the area. The seized stock included expensive liquor, vodka and beer, the report said.
The excise team, led by Sub-Inspector Prem Prakash Singh, began monitoring the areas outside different farmhouses after receiving the information. Officials stopped and examined a vehicle they considered suspicious, after which five people were arrested during the operation.
The arrested people were identified as Priyanshu, Rupesh, Himanshu, Virendra and Mohit Birmane. According to the report, all except Priyanshu live in an upscale area of Gurugram. The report did not specify the exact quantities or brands of alcohol seized.
The department has alleged that the liquor was being brought from Haryana to avoid tax-related costs and that the group had links with farmhouse operators. The alleged arrangement allowed the liquor to be supplied for parties held at the properties, according to information attributed to excise department sources.
The operation highlights the enforcement challenge created by farmhouse venues on Delhi’s southern fringe, where party properties are located close to the Haryana border and are used for private gatherings. The report, however, does not provide details about the number of farmhouses under investigation or whether any operators were arrested.
An FIR has been registered at Fatehpur Beri police station, and the seized liquor and vehicles have been handed over to the police. Further action will depend on the investigation into the alleged smuggling network, the role of the farmhouse operators and the source and intended distribution of the seized alcohol.
