Pratapgarh excise raids destroy illegal liquor, arrest one in crackdown

The Excise Department in Pratapgarh district carried out a major crackdown on illegal liquor production, seizing 20 liters of illicit raw alcohol and approximately 300 kilograms of mahua lahan during raids in two villages on August 25, 2026. The operation was conducted under the direction of District Magistrate Abhishek Pandey, Superintendent of Police Deepak Bhukar, and District Excise Officer Akhileshwar Nath Singh.

The excise department team raided Keshavpur and Ajhara villages under the Lalganj police station area as part of an ongoing campaign against illegal liquor manufacturing and sale. During the operation, officials discovered a significant quantity of illicit raw liquor along with 300 kilograms of mahua lahan, a fermented substance used in the production of country liquor. The team destroyed the seized lahan on the spot and confiscated the illegal alcohol.

In connection with the case, one person was arrested and an FIR was registered under the Excise Act. The accused has been sent to jail following the arrest. Excise Inspector Ashok Kumar led the raid, which was jointly conducted by personnel from the excise department and the Lalganj police station.

The excise department has stated that its campaign against illegal liquor manufacturing and sale will continue in the coming days. Such operations are part of the administration's efforts to curb the production and distribution of illicit alcohol, which poses serious health risks to consumers and undermines legitimate revenue collection. The district authorities have been conducting regular raids to dismantle illegal distillation networks and enforce compliance with excise regulations across the region.