Delhi’s Excise Department has registered 725 FIRs and arrested 730 people in a stepped-up crackdown on the sale and smuggling of illegal liquor between April and August 2026, with enforcement expected to intensify ahead of the festive season.
During the five-month period, officials seized 197 vehicles allegedly used to transport illegal liquor and recovered around 2.20 lakh bottles, according to information reported by Millennium Post. The enforcement figures are substantially higher than those recorded during the corresponding period last year.
Between April and August 2025, the department registered 315 FIRs, arrested 312 people, seized 112 vehicles and recovered around one lakh bottles of illegal liquor. The latest figures represent more than a doubling of FIRs and arrests, while vehicle seizures and bottle recoveries have also increased significantly.
Officials attributed Delhi’s vulnerability to liquor smuggling to its geographical proximity to neighbouring states and the presence of around 70 large and small entry points into the city. The Excise Department’s enforcement wing has been maintaining surveillance along these routes and taking action against people allegedly involved in the illegal trade.
The department has also initiated proceedings against violations at licensed liquor establishments. Seven FIRs have been registered in such cases, with authorities sealing establishments, imposing fines and starting other legal proceedings. The reported action covers both illegal supply routes and breaches by businesses operating within the licensed liquor system.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Delhi government was following a zero-tolerance policy towards the illegal liquor trade. She said the government was working on a new excise policy focused on public safety, responsible regulation, quality and revenue generation.
“The government’s priority is to ensure adequate availability of legal liquor during festivals so that Delhi residents do not face any inconvenience, while also effectively curbing the sale and smuggling of illegal liquor,” Gupta said.
The government plans to supply liquor through legal channels during the festive period, including retail outlets operated by government corporations and on-premises establishments such as hotels, clubs and restaurants. The stated approach combines intensified enforcement against unauthorised trade with efforts to ensure that licensed outlets have adequate supplies.
The proposed excise policy is expected to address regulation of the liquor trade and government revenue generation, although details of the policy have not yet been released. For now, the Excise Department’s next step is to increase surveillance and enforcement against illegal liquor networks and violations at licensed establishments as the festive season approaches.
