📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jagtapkish
Crime
Police seize 6,000 litres of illegal Mahua liquor from Omkareshwar dam backwaters in Madhya Pradesh
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 10:33 PM
👁 19
Mandhata police, aided by divers, uncovered three illegal liquor units in the backwater of Omkareshwar dam, recovering about 40‑45 drums containing roughly six thousand litres of Mahua liquor.
Mandhata police in Madhya Pradesh launched a raid on three illegal liquor manufacturing sites located in the backwater area of the Omkareshwar dam, Khandwa district. Divers were deployed to search the submerged zones, where they discovered between 40 and 45 drums hidden underwater. The drums were found to contain approximately six thousand litres of Mahua-based spirit, a locally produced alcoholic beverage that is prohibited without proper licensing.
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, resulted in the seizure of the entire stock and the arrest of several individuals linked to the illicit production network. Authorities said the liquor was being stored in the dam's backwater to evade detection and to facilitate distribution across the region.
Police officials emphasized that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to curb illegal alcohol manufacturing, which poses health risks and deprives the state of revenue. Further investigations are underway to trace the supply chain and identify any additional hidden caches.
The seized Mahua liquor will be destroyed under police supervision, and the confiscated equipment will be retained as evidence. The department has urged the public to report any similar activities in water bodies or remote locations.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by law‑enforcement agencies in monitoring illicit activities in remote and aquatic environments, especially in areas surrounding major water infrastructure like the Omkareshwar dam.
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, resulted in the seizure of the entire stock and the arrest of several individuals linked to the illicit production network. Authorities said the liquor was being stored in the dam's backwater to evade detection and to facilitate distribution across the region.
Police officials emphasized that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to curb illegal alcohol manufacturing, which poses health risks and deprives the state of revenue. Further investigations are underway to trace the supply chain and identify any additional hidden caches.
The seized Mahua liquor will be destroyed under police supervision, and the confiscated equipment will be retained as evidence. The department has urged the public to report any similar activities in water bodies or remote locations.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by law‑enforcement agencies in monitoring illicit activities in remote and aquatic environments, especially in areas surrounding major water infrastructure like the Omkareshwar dam.