Fake Hologram Racket Thrives in Raipur; Excise Department Suffers ₹24 Lakh Monthly Loss
Anwar-Lakhma-Tuteja Syndicate’s Modus Operandi Lives On
Raipur – Despite the arrest of prominent figures like Anwar Dhebar, former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, and retired IAS officer Anil Tuteja in the fake liquor hologram scam, similar illegal activities continue in Raipur. In a recent operation, the Excise Department raided a roadside eatery and a printing shop, recovering over 40,000 fake holograms, bottle labels, and liquor caps.
According to reports, former contract employees of the excise department are believed to be emulating the infamous Anwar-Tuteja syndicate. Two individuals have been arrested, while others involved are suspected to have escaped to Bihar.
Raipur Faces Heavy Financial Losses
A Times Group investigation revealed that the illegal trade of liquor in Raipur alone is causing a monthly loss of over ₹24 lakh to the excise department. The racket is centered around mass-producing counterfeit holograms used for country and premium liquor bottles.
Timeline of the Operation
On April 20, around 4:30 PM, District Excise Deputy Commissioner Ramkrishna Mishra received a tip-off regarding fake holograms in liquor distribution. He immediately ordered an FIR and a raid.
The first raid took place at BH Dhaba in Birgaon, where the team recovered:
- 1,460 fake hologram stickers
- 1,100 country liquor bottle labels
- 105 liquor bottle caps
The dhaba operator, Sankatmochan, initially hesitated but later admitted the materials belonged to Sandeep from Bhilai. Both had worked together at a liquor distillery in 2013–14. Sandeep, formerly a middleman in the liquor trade, recently convinced Sankatmochan to assist in the hologram racket for financial gain.
Mass Production Revealed
Based on Sankatmochan’s confession, the team raided a printing shop in Birgaon owned by Ganesh Chaurasia, who was found cutting sheets of fake holograms. The following materials were seized:
- 371 sheets with 110–120 stickers each
- Over 40,000 fake hologram stickers
Ganesh claimed the order was placed by Ranjeet Gupta, who fled upon learning of the raid. Both Sankatmochan and Ganesh were arrested and handed over to the police.
Limited Connections Among Accused
There appears to be no direct link between the four main suspects—Sankatmochan, Ganesh, Sandeep, and Ranjeet—other than instructions being passed down a chain. Ganesh was known to all three but primarily worked on orders from Ranjeet.
Ganesh confessed to printing around 70,000 fake stickers in a month, outsourcing the work to multiple local shops. One shop in Mominpara confirmed supplying 8,000 stickers to Ganesh.
Profit Model and Wider Reach
The stickers, mostly used for country liquor, were reportedly sold at ₹80 each. With 30,000 fake stickers in circulation monthly, the state suffers a ₹24 lakh loss.
However, the racket’s scope appears wider than initially believed. Premium beer bottle caps with fake QR-coded holograms were also found during the raid, indicating that branded liquors might also be compromised.
Key Culprits Still Missing
Main suspects Ranjeet and Sandeep are still on the run. Police are actively pursuing them, as their arrest is critical for unearthing the full extent of the racket. A seized pen drive contained design templates but no major leads.
