PUNE: A case of cheating and forgery has been registered against CEO Prasad Hiray and four others of the Delta Distilleries Pvt Ltd, for allegedly using labels of United Spirits Ltd, to sell liquor bottles. Police have seized about 60,000 bottles. 

The FIR was registered on Saturday with Hadapsar police station, under whose jurisdiction the company’s premises is located. Officials from Crime Branch Unit 5 had raided the premises on Friday and sealed the liquor bottles, and other materials worth Rs 58 lakh. 

Others named in the FIR are, finance controller Laxman Kanhaiyyalal Tindwani of Kolhapur, manager Lalit Vishwanath Khadilkar (51), product supervisor Ravindra Ramkrishna Tayde (46) and accountant Sunil Ingale (42). 

According to police, Delta Distilleries Pvt Ltd operates from Hadapsar industrial area. They used to fill foreign liquor in the bottles (180 ml) and paste labels of United Spirits Ltd. 

“After getting information, we had enquired with the state excise department who informed us that the firm cannot do such a thing. After that, we contacted the United Spirits Ltd, who lodged a complaint. On Friday afternoon, we raided the premises and seized about 60,000 bottles and other materials, totally worth Rs 58 lakh. We have also arrested Khadilkar, Ingale, and Tayde,” said Inspector Dattatray Chavan of Crime Branch unit 5. 

The accused persons have been also charged for offences under various sections of the Trade Merchandise Marks Act and Copyright Act.