Odisha man found smuggling liquor in guise of Kanwariya

In a dramatic incident, a man disguised as a Kanwariya was arrested in Subarnapur district on Tuesday while smuggling country liquor. Acting on a tip-off, excise officials caught him with 50 litres of illicit Mahuli, uncovering a unique method of deception.

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According to sources, in a clever disguise gone wrong, a liquor smuggler posing as a Kaudia/Kanwaria (a devotee carrying holy water to offer to Lord Shiva) was caught red-handed by the Excise Department sleuths. The bizarre incident occurred at Kartang Chhak in Subarnapur, where authorities apprehended the suspect during a routine inspection.

The arrested man has been identified as Sudarshan Mahananda, a resident of Budelbahali village under Tarabha police limits. Wearing traditional Kanwariya attire and riding a bike, he was transporting 50 litres of country-made Mahuli liquor.

The operation was part of a targeted crackdown on illegal liquor trade during the monsoon pilgrimage season, where smugglers often use disguises to bypass checkpoints.

Sudarshan had hoped his religious appearance would help him evade detection. However, the smuggler’s suspicious behaviour alerted the excise team, who quickly intervened and uncovered the hidden consignment.

The accused man has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway to determine if he is part of a larger network.

Authorities have warned that such deceptive practices not only violate the law but also disrespect religious sentiments. Strict legal action will be taken against anyone found using religious garb to conceal criminal activities.

“A man in the guise of Kanwariya and riding a red-coloured motorcycle (registration number OD-31 F-2003) was coming towards Kartang Chhak. He had tied country liquor kept in a large sack at the backside of his motorcycle,” Tarabha ASI, Abhilash Behera, stated.

“We detained the man and, following a thorough search, about 50 litres of liquor were seized from his possession. The accused was later forwarded to court,” the cop added.