Midnight Raid Uncovers Illegal Liquor Sales in Bhubaneswar Restaurants, Two Owners Arrested

The operation targeted establishments along the Bhubaneswar-Puri Bypass and near Patia Infocity, highlighting ongoing efforts to curb the illicit liquor trade in Odisha.

Acting on confidential intelligence, excise teams descended on Hunger Hacker Restaurant near Pandara on the Bhubaneswar-Puri Bypass, Zouk Restaurant on the same bypass, and Mawa Restaurant at Patia near Infosys. While all three venues were raided, two cases were registered for illegal liquor possession and sales without proper licenses.

At Hunger Hacker, authorities seized 7.5 litres of IMFL. The restaurant’s owner, Mohammad Sobani Khan, was arrested on the spot for operating without a liquor license and engaging in covert sales. Similarly, at Mawa Restaurant, 15 litres of beer were confiscated, resulting in the arrest of owner Kishore Chandra Rout. Both accused were produced in court following their arrests.

No seizures were reported from Zouk Restaurant, but the raid underscores the department’s vigilance against unlicensed operations. Excise officials stated that these restaurants were secretly selling alcohol to patrons, flouting state regulations. “We received tip-offs about these activities, and our midnight operation was aimed at disrupting such networks,” an excise officer involved in the raid said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Excise authorities emphasised that strict monitoring will continue, with further investigations ongoing into these cases.