Illegal liquor worth Rs 3.5 lakh seized ahead of polls

Three persons have been arrested and liquor worth Rs 3.5 lakh seized under a special drive launched in Nashik division by the state excise department.

The drive is aimed at checking illegal transportation and sale of Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country-made liquor in view of Lok Sabha polls.

The arrests were made in last two days from Pathardi Phata on busy Mumbai-Agra national highway and from Yeola-Kopargaon Road, Excise Department superintendent J B Patil said today.

"Political parties often lure voters by supplying liquor. As per the Election Commission directives, the department has kept a strict vigil on transportation of illegal liquor stock by forming various flying squads in the region," he added.