India, Dec. 8 -- In a major crackdown ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, the excise department of Pune arrested five individuals in two separate operations and seized foreign-made liquor worth Rs.11.38 lakh that was being smuggled into the state from Madhya Pradesh.

According to excise officials, the first operation was conducted on December 3 near Malegaon Phata on the Baramati-Nira Road. An excise team from the Baramati division intercepted a suspicious car. On inspection, the officers found cartons of a foreign liquor hidden inside the vehicle, which is banned in the state.

A total of 20 boxes (180 ml) of different categories of whisky were recovered. The consignment, with an estimated market value of Rs.6.98 lakh was bein...