An official said a case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, and sections 318 (cheating) and 274 (adulterating food or drink for the purpose of sale) of the Indian Penal Code.

Police in Maharashtra’s Palghar district have busted a liquor adulteration racket, arresting one person and seizing liquor worth Rs 12 lakh, an official said on Saturday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team from the MBVV police crime branch raided a chawl in Nalasopara on Thursday and arrested the accused, Dharamraj Babulal Nishad (55).

Senior Inspector Aviraj Kurhade said the accused allegedly mixed chemicals into cheap liquor brought from Diu, Daman, and Goa, then bottled it in popular and expensive liquor brands and sold it. “Our team seized a total of 368 750 and 180 ml bottles of various high-end brands and other material worth ₹1.2 million,” Kurhade said.

The officer said a case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, and sections 318 (cheating) and 274 (adulteration of food or drink for the purpose of sale) of the Indian Penal Code.