LUCKNOW, Aug. 31 -- Refilling bottles of premium foreign brands with low-quality alcohol, using fake QR codes along with counterfeit caps and luring customers with late night delivery helped a liquor racket thrive in the state capital, officials said.

At least four gang members were arrested during a raid earlier this week in the state capital, an excise official said.

"The gang poured liquor from lower brands to premium empty bottles of liquor," the official added.

"The gang purchased empty bottles of expensive liquor in large quantities from scrap dealers and even beggars. These bottles were then refilled with cheaper liquor, resealed using counterfeit caps, and labelled with forged QR codes ordered through the dark web," excise depa...