2,496 bottles of liquor seized from ex-MLA’s cold storage in Ballia

Varanasi: A former MLA Manju Singh and her family have come under the lens of Ballia police after the arrest of one Sangam Yadav with a huge consignment of smuggled liquor from their cold storage in Maniyar area of Ballia on Wednesday night.
SP Ballia Vipin Tada said, “On getting specific inputs a joint team of Maniyar police and special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team had raided a cold storage in Gangapur township under the limits of Maniyar police station at 11 pm on Wednesday.During this raid, 2,496 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor packed in 52 boxes and 460 bottles in a bag were recovered. One Sangam Yadav of Sukhpura area was arrested from the spot.”
“During investigation, it came to light that the cold storage belonged to former MLA Manju Singh,” said Tada adding, “we are investigating the role of former MLA her family members and relatives in the episode. The course of action would be decided against them on the basis of outcomes of the investigation.”
“During initial interrogation, Sangam divulged the names of his other gang members and said that they used to procure liquor from Haryana on cheaper price. The gang brings liquor consignments to Azamgarh and later stores it at different places in Bihar bordering districts in order to sell it in the districts of dry state at higher cost,” said police.
“Other members of this gang are also being traced. Not only the smuggled liquor, but the recovery of empty bottles, wrappers and caps from the spot has indicated towards possibility of preparation of hooch there,” police added.
Meanwhile, the Haldi police also arrested a notorious criminal Viru Yadav with spurious liquor.